Suddenly, at about ten o’clock, a dull thud sounded somewhere far away from us, and simultaneously we saw a small white round cloud about half a mile ahead of us where the shrapnel had exploded.  The battle had begun.  Other shots followed shortly, exploding here and there, but doing no harm.  The Russian gunners evidently were trying to locate and draw an answer from our batteries.  These, however, remained mute, not caring to reveal their position.  For a long time the Russians fired at random, mostly at too short a range to do any harm, but slowly the harmless-looking white clouds came nearer, until a shell, whining as it whizzed past us, burst about a hundred yards behind our trench.  A second shell followed, exploding almost at the same place.  At the same time, we noticed a faint spinning noise above us.  Soaring high above our position, looking like a speck in the firmament, flew a Russian aeroplane, watching the effect of the shells and presumably directing the fire of the Russian artillery.  This explained its sudden accuracy.  One of our aeroplanes rose, giving chase to the enemy, and simultaneously our batteries got into action.  The Russians kept up a sharply concentrated, well-directed fire against our center, our gunners responding gallantly, and the spirited artillery duel which ensued grew in intensity until the entrails of the earth seemed fairly to shake with the thunder.

By one o’clock the incessant roaring, crashing, and splintering of bursting shells had become almost unendurable to our nerves, which were already strained to the snapping-point by the lack of action and the expectancy.  Suddenly there appeared a thin dark line on the horizon which moved rapidly towards us, looking not unlike a huge running bird with immense outstretched wings.  We looked through our field glasses; there could be no doubt,—­it was Russian cavalry, swooping down upon us with incredible impetus and swiftness.  I quickly glanced at our colonel.  He stared open-mouthed.  This was, indeed, good fortune for us,—­too good to believe.  No cavalry attack could stand before well-disciplined infantry, providing the latter keep cool and well composed, calmly waiting until the riders come sufficiently close to take sure aim.

There was action for us at last.  At a sharp word of command, our men scrambled out of the trenches for better view and aim, shouting with joy as they did so.  What a change had come over us all!  My heart beat with wild exultation.  I glanced at my men.  They were all eagerness and determination, hand at the trigger, eyes on the approaching enemy, every muscle strained, yet calm, their bronzed faces hardened into immobility, waiting for the command to fire.  Every subaltern officer’s eye hung on our colonel, who stood about thirty yards ahead of us on a little hill, his figure well defined in the sunlight, motionless, the very picture of calm assurance and proud bearing.  He scanned the horizon with his glasses.  Shrapnel was hailing around him, but he seemed utterly unaware of it; for that matter we had all forgotten it, though it kept up its terrible uproar, spitting here and there destruction into our midst.