第 24 页

road, which was here sunken between somewhat high banks. Tom and Peter

were with the last company, which turned and prepared to receive them,

when Tom, pointing to a coil of rope upon a cart which had broken

down, shouted, "Quick, tie it to these posts across the road." Two or

three men sprang to assist him, and in a minute the rope was stretched

across the road at a foot from the ground, and fastened round a stone

post on either side. They had scarcely seized their muskets and leapt

on the bank again, when the French cavalry came thundering down the

road. "Fire, a few of you," Tom said, "so as to call their attention

up here," and in accordance with his order a dropping fire was opened.

The French came along at a gallop; a few of the leading horses saw

the rope and leapt it, but those behind caught it and fell, the mass

behind pressed on, and in an instant the lane was choked with a

confused mass of men and horses. "Now a volley," Tom cried, "and then

to the bridge."

Every musket was emptied in to the struggling mass, and then with a

cheer, the men ran briskly down to the bridge, and crossed--the last

of the British troops over the Coa.

The rest of the infantry and artillery had already taken ground on the

heights behind the river, and these opened fire upon the French as

they approached the head of the bridge in pursuit. The British were

now, however, safe in the position which they ought to have taken up

before the advance of the French, and had General Craufurd obeyed his

orders not to fight beyond the Coa, the lives of 306 of his gallant

troops, including the officers, would have been saved.

The battle, however, was not yet over. The artillery on both sides

played across the ravine, the French skirmishers swarmed down to the

river bank, and between them and the British infantry a rapid fire was

exchanged, while a heavy column marched down to the bridge. With a

deep-sounding cheer they advanced upon it, while with answering cheers

the British opened fire upon them. The depth of the ravine at first

deceived the British marksmen, and the column pressed on until its

head was three-quarters across the bridge. Then the shower smote it,

and beneath that terrible fire the head of the column melted away.

Still it pressed on until across the bridge the corpses lay piled in a

mass as high as the parapet, and beyond this heap, this terrible line,

there was no living. Then sullenly and slowly the French fell back,

while the British cheers rose exultingly along the hillside.

Twice again did fresh columns pour on to the bridge, but only to melt

away under the British fire, neither of them reaching the dreadful

line which marked the point reached by the head of the first. The

artillery and musketry fire on both sides continued until four in the

afternoon, when a heavy rain set in, and the fire ceased altogether.

As the Coa was fordable at several points lower down, and the French

could therefore have turned the position next day, the British troops

fell back during the night behind the Pinhel river, where Picton's

division was also encamped.

Next morning the boys exchanged their Spanish suits for the uniform

of British officers, which they obtained from the effects of some of

those who had fallen upon the previous day, these being, as is usual

in a campaign, at once sold by auction, the amount realized being

received by the paymaster for the benefit of the dead men's relatives.

Major MacLeod had witnessed their ready presence of mind in throwing

the rope across the road, and so checking the French charge, and

giving time to the rear-guard to cross the bridge, and had made a very

favorable report upon the subject.

Two days later and they joined the Rangers, who were stationed at

Guarda, and were received with the greatest heartiness by their

brother officers, with warm but respectful greetings by the men, and

with uproarious demonstrations of gladness on the part of Sambo.

"The betting was two to one that you had gone down, boys," Captain

Manley said, after the first greetings; "but Carruthers and myself

have taken up all offers, and win I don't know how many dinners and

bottles of wine. I had the strongest faith you would get through

somehow. You will take up your quarters with me. I have two bedrooms

upstairs there, which Sam has taken possession of in your name. He

would have it that you were sure to be back in time for the first

fight. Dinner will be ready at six, and after that there will be a

general gathering round the fire in the open to hear your adventures.

No doubt you would be dining with the colonel, but I know he is

engaged to the general."

"Yes, he told us so," Tom said, "and we are to dine with him

to-morrow."

"All right, then; we'll make a night of it. Carruthers is coming to

dine, and Burke and Lethbridge; but the room won't hold more than six.

We are going to have a feast, for Sam has got hold of a sucking-pig;

where he got it from I dare not inquire, and Lethbridge said his

fellow had, somehow or other, found a turkey; as to wine, we shall

have it of the best, for Burke is quartered at the monastery, and the

monks are so delighted at finding him a good Catholic that they have

given him the run of their cellar."

It was a jovial dinner, and no words can express the satisfaction and

delight which beamed on Sam's face as he stood behind his master, or

the grin of pride with which he placed the sucking-pig on the table.

"Sam, Sam!" Captain Manley said reprovingly, "I fear that pig is not

honestly come by, and that one of these days we shall hear that you

have come to a bad end."

"No, no, Massa Captain Manley, sar," Sam said, "dat pig come quite

honest, dat pig made present to Sam."

"A likely story that, Sam. Come, out with it. I have no doubt it was

quite as honest as Lethbridge's turkey anyhow. Come, tell us how it

was."

Thus invoked, Sam's face assumed the pompons air with which he always

related a story, and he began,--

"Well, sar, de affair happened in dis way. When de massas arribe, two

o'clock, and went in for long talk wid de colonel, dis chile said to

himself, 'Now what am I going to get them for dinner?' De rations

sarve out dis morning war all skin and bone, and war pretty nigh

finished at lunch. Sam say to himself, 'Captain Manley's sure to say,

'You dine wid me;' but as Captain Manley hadn't got no food himself,

de invitation was berry kind, berry kind indeed; but massa wasn't

likely to get fat on dat invitation."

Sam's narrative was interrupted by a perfect shout of laughter upon

the part of all at table, Captain Manley joining heartily in the laugh

against himself. When they had a little recovered again, Sam went on

as gravely as ever. "Dis struck Sam berry serious, not to have nothing

for dinner after being away seben months; presently idea occur to dis

chile, and he stroll permiscuous up to big farm-house on hill. When

Sam got near house, kept out of sight of window; at last got quite

close, took off shako, and put head suddenly in at window. Sure

enough, just what Sam expected, dere sat missus of farm, fat ole

woman, wid fat ole servant opposite her. De door was open, and dis

little pig and several of his broders and sisters was a frisking in

and out. De old women look up bofe togeder, and dey give a awful

shriek when dey saw dis chile's head; dey fought it were de debil,

sure enough. Dey drop down on dere knees, and begin to pray as fast as

maybe. Den I give a loud 'Yah! yah!' and dey screams out fresh. 'Oh!

good massa debil!' says the ole woman, 'what you want? I been berry,

berry bad, but don't take me away.' You see, Massa Tom, I pick up

little Spanish, 'nuff to understand since you been gone. I not say

nuffin, and de ole woman den go on, 'If you want one soul Massa Debil,

take dis here,' pointing to her serbant;' she been much more wicked

nor me.' Den de serbant she set up awful shriek, and I says, 'Dis time

I hab pity on you, next time I come, if you not good I carry you bofe

away. But must take soul away to big debil 'else he neber forgibe me.

Dere, I will carry off soul of little pig. Gib it me.' De serbant she

gives cry ob joy, jump up, seize little pig, and berry much afraid,

bring him to window. Before I take him I say to old missus, 'Dis a

free gibt on your part?' and she say, 'Oh, yes, oh, yes, good Massa

Debil, you can take dem all if you like.' I say, 'No; only one--and

now me gib you bit advice. My Massa down below hear you very bad ole

women, never gib noting to de poor, berry hard, berry hard. Me advise

you change your conduct, or, as sure as eggs is eggs, he send me up

again for you no time.' Den I gave two great 'Yah! yah's!' again berry

loud, and showed de white ob my eyes, and dey went down on to knees

again, and I go quietly round corner ob house, and walk home wid de

pig which was giben to me. Noting like stealing about dat, Massa

Manley, sar!"

Sam's story was received with roars of laughter, and when they had

recovered themselves a little, Captain Manley said, "It is lucky we

march to-morrow, Sam, for if the good woman were to catch a glimpse of

you in uniform, and were to find she had been tricked, she might lay

a complaint against you, and although, as you say, the pig was freely

given to you, I imagine the Provost Marshal might consider that it was

obtained under false pretences. But here are the other men outside, we

had better adjourn, for every one is longing to hear your adventures."

It was a lovely evening, and as the officers of the Norfolk Rangers

sat or lay round the fire, which was lit for light and cheerfulness

rather than warmth, the boys, after their long wanderings among

strangers, felt how pleasant and bright life was among friends

and comrades. They had first to relate their adventures with the

guerillas, after which it was agreed that they had earned the right to

be silent for the rest of the evening, and song, and jest, and merry

story went round the ring.

Sam was installed under the direction of the doctor, a jovial

Irishman, as concocter of punch, and his office was by no means a

sinecure.

"Now, major, give us the song of the regiment," Captain Manley said,

and, as he spoke, there was a general cry round the circle of "The

Rangers, the Rangers." "I'm agreeable," the major said. "Give me

another tumbler of punch to get my pipes in order. Make it a little

sweeter than the last brew, Sam; yes, that's better. Well, here

goes--full chorus, and no shirking."

THE RANGERS.

"Hurrah for the Rangers, hurrah! hurrah!

Here's to the corps that we love so well;

Ever the first in the deadly fray,

Steady and firm amid shot and shell.

Scattered as skirmishers out in the front,

Contesting each foot of the ground we hold,

Nor yielding a step though we bear the brunt

Of the first attack of the foeman bold.

Hurrah for the Rangers, hurrah! hurrah!

Here's to the corps that we love so well;

Ever the first in the deadly fray,

Steady and firm amid shot and shell.

"Steady boys, steady, the foe falls back,

Sullenly back to the beat of the drum,

Hark to the thunder that nears our flank

Rally in square, boys, their cavalry come.

Squadron on squadron, wave upon wave,

Dashing along with an ocean's force,

But they break into spray on our bayonets' points,

And we mock at the fury of rider and horse.

Hurrah for the Rangers, &c.

"The gunner may boast of the death he deals

As he shatters the foe with his iron hail,

And may laugh with pride as he checks the charge,

Or sees the dark column falter and quail.

But the gunner fights with the foe afar,

In the rear of the line is the battery's place,

The Ranger fights with a sterner joy

For he strives with his foemen face to face.

Hurrah for the Rangers, &c.

"The cavalry man is dashing and gay,

His steed is fast, and his blade is fine,

He blithely rides to the fiercest fray,

And cuts his way through the foeman's line,

But the wild, fierce joys of the deadly breach,

Or the patient pluck of the serried square

Are far away from the horseman's reach,

While the Norfolk Rangers are sure to be there.

Hurrah for the Rangers, &c."

Long, loud, and hearty was the cheering as the last chorus concluded.

"Very good song, very well sung, jolly companions every one," shouted

the doctor. "Now, Manley, keep the ball rolling, give us the 'The

Bivouac,'" Captain Manley emptied his glass, and, without hesitation,

began--

THE BIVOUAC.

"The weary march is over, boys, the camp fire's burning bright,

So gather round the blazing logs, we'll keep high feast to-night,

For every heart is full of joy, and every cheek aglow,

That after months of waiting, at last we meet the foe.

To-morrow's sun will see the fight, and ere that sun goes down,

Our glorious flag another wreath of victory shall crown.

Hurrah, hurrah for the bivouac,

With comrades tried and true,

With faces bright, and spirits light,

And the foemen's fires in view.

"Then fill your cups with Spanish wine, and let the toast go round,

Here's a health to all who love us on dear old England's ground.

Be their tresses gold or auburn, or black as ebon's hue,

Be their eyes of witching hazel, loving gray, or heaven's blue,

Here's to them all, the girls we love, God bless them every one;

May we all be here to toast them when to-morrow's work is done.

Hurrah, hurrah, &c.