lifted up its enlivening voice at intervals; and we on the highest of the

mounds I mentioned, too far off to observe the fallen sheaves which death

gathered into his storehouse, beheld the regiments, now lost in smoke, now

banners and staves peering above the cloud, while shout and clamour drowned

every sound.

Early in the day, Argyropylo was wounded dangerously, and Raymond assumed

the command of the whole army. He made few remarks, till, on observing

through his glass the sequel of an order he had given, his face, clouded

for awhile with doubt, became radiant. "The day is ours," he cried, "the

Turks fly from the bayonet." And then swiftly he dispatched his

aides-de-camp to command the horse to fall on the routed enemy. The defeat

became total; the cannon ceased to roar; the infantry rallied, and horse

pursued the flying Turks along the dreary plain; the staff of Raymond was

dispersed in various directions, to make observations, and bear commands.

Even I was dispatched to a distant part of the field.

The ground on which the battle was fought, was a level plain--so level,

that from the tumuli you saw the waving line of mountains on the

wide-stretched horizon; yet the intervening space was unvaried by the least

irregularity, save such undulations as resembled the waves of the sea. The

whole of this part of Thrace had been so long a scene of contest, that it

had remained uncultivated, and presented a dreary, barren appearance. The

order I had received, was to make an observation of the direction which a

detachment of the enemy might have taken, from a northern tumulus; the

whole Turkish army, followed by the Greek, had poured eastward; none but

234

The Last Man