THE MAIN FIGHT. 437 authcntiu alarm aniiouiicing this lEkermaii battle, CHAP. and now it so happened that he was the first to '_. send tidings of the commencing retreat. Look- ^thPerioa ing from his vantage-ground on the Victoria Pddge, and across the line of march which connected Shell Hill with the West Sapper's Road, he saw n part of the enemy's artillery beginning all at once to withdraw, fixed the time by a glance at his watch (which showed him 'a quarter to oue'), and — by Adye * who was then at his side — de- spatched an instant message to Lord Eaglan, acquainting him with the change thus observed. SEVENTH PERIOD. FROM 1 P.M. TO 8 P.M. The battalions thrown forward by Dannenberg ith Period to shield his retreat were propelled, it may be, ^/'j^fg'"^'^ under some misconception of orders, or else, per- j"[g"tgfi t^, haps, by an outburst of warlike enthusiasm which repudiated the notion of yielding, and insisted upon another attack. A light breath of air springing up rolled the smoke on Shell Hill to- wards the west, and disclosed to one of our people a heavy column descending. The mass was coming on in seemingly eager haste, as though minded to attack the Allies at that very part of their heights where the two 18-pounders were in battery. • Now General Sir John Adye, K.A., K.C.B. cover the retreat.
