50 THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

forces, a powerful reserve, composed of gingerbread men, and
warriors made of sugar of different colours, had remained in
the cupboard, and already began to bustle about. The king
of the mice had, however, gone too far to retreat; and he
gave the signal by a squeak, which was repeated by all the
forces under his command.

At the same moment
the battery on the foot-
stool replied with avolley
of shot amongst the
masses of mice.

The regiment of hus- z
sars rushed onward to the charge, so that on one side the dust
raised by their horses’ feet, and on the other the smoke of the
cannon, concealed the plain of battle from the eyes of Mary.

But in the midst of the roar of the cannon, the shouts of
the combatants, and the groans of the dying, she heard the
voice of the Nut-cracker ever rising above the din.

“¢ Serjeant Harlequin,” he cried, ‘take twenty men, and
fall upon the flank of the enemy. Lieutenant Punch, form
into a square. Captain Puppet, fire in platoons. Colonel of
Hussars, charge in masses, and not four deep, as you are
doing. Bravo, good leaden soldiers—bravo! If all my
troops behave as well as you, the day is our’s!”

 
   

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