ndress
uniform. The rest were in full regimentals. I had scarcely time to throw a
passing glance upon him, when the officer I have mentioned as coming first
called out in a stern voice,--

"Who are you, sir?"

I started at the sounds; it was not the first time those accents had been
heard by me.

"Captain O'Malley, Fourteenth Light Dragoons."

"What brings you here, sir? Your regiment is at Caya."

"I have been employed as acting aide-de-camp to General Crawfurd," said I,
hesitatingly.

"Is that your staff uniform?" said he, as with compressed brow and stern
look he fixed his eyes upon my coat. Before I had time to reply, or,
indeed, before I well knew how to do so, a gruff voice from behind called
out,--

"Damn me! if that ain't the fellow that led the stormers through a broken
embrasure! I say, my lord, that's the yeoman I was telling you of. Is it
not so, sir?" continued he, turning towards me.

"Yes, sir. I led a party of the Eighty-eight at the breach."

"And devilish well you did it, too!" added Picton, for it was he who
recognized me. "I saw him, my lord, spring down from the parapet upon a
French gunner, and break his sword as he cleft his helmet in two. Yes, yes;
I shall not forget in a hurry how you laid about you with the rammer of the
gun! By Jove! that's it he has in his hand!"

While Picton ran thus hurriedly on, Lord Wellington's calm but stern
features never changed their expression. The looks of those around were
bent upon me with interest and even admiration; but his evinced nothing of
either.

Reverting at once to my absence from my post, he asked me,--

"Did you obtain leave for a particular service, sir?"

"No, my lord. It was simply from an accidental circumstance that--"

"Then, report yourself at your quarters as under arrest."

"But, my lord--" said Picton. Lord Wellington waited not for the
explanation, but walked firmly forward, and strode into the church. The
staff followed in silence, Picton turning one look of kindness on me as he
went, as though to say, "I'll not forget you."

"The devil take it," cried I, as I found myself once more alone, "but
I'm unlucky! What would turn out with other men the very basis of their
fortune, is ever with me the source of ill-luck."

It was evident, from Picton's account, that I had distinguished myself
in the breach; and yet nothing was more clear than that my conduct had
displeased the commander-in-chief. Picturing him ever to my mind