orming of the great breach, capture of the enemy's cannon, etc., by
Michael Free, 14th Light Dragoons_."

Leaving the many around me busied in conjecturing who the aforesaid Mr.
Free might be, and what peculiar opportunities he might have enjoyed for
his report, I hurried from the room and called the waiter.

"What's the meaning of the announcement you've just put up in the
coffee-room? Where did it come from?"

"Most important news, sir; exclusively in the columns of the '_Bristol
Telegraph_,'--the gentleman has just arrived--"

"Who, pray? What gentleman?"

"Mr. Free, sir, No. 13--large bed-room--blue damask--supper for
two--oysters--a devil--brandy-and-water-mulled port."

"What the devil do you mean? Is the fellow at supper?"

Somewhat shocked by the tone I ventured to assume towards the illustrious
narrator, the waiter merely bowed his reply.

"Show me to his room," said I; "I should like to see him."

"Follow me, if you please, sir,--this way. What name shall I say, sir?"

"You need not mind announcing me,--I'm an old acquaintance,--just show me
the room."

"I beg pardon, sir, but Mr. Meekins, the editor of the '_Telegraph_,' is
engaged with him at present; and positive orders are given not to suffer
any interruption."

"No matter; do as I bid you. Is that it? Oh, I hear his voice. There, that
will do. You may go down-stairs, I'll introduce myself."

[Illustration: CAPTAIN MICKEY FREE RELATING HIS HEROIC DEEDS.]

So saying, and slipping a crown into the waiter's hand, I proceeded
cautiously towards the door, and opened it stealthily. My caution was,
however, needless; for a large screen was drawn across this part of the
room, completely concealing the door, closing which behind me, I took my
place beneath the shelter of this ambuscade, determined on no account to be
perceived by the parties.

Seated in a large arm-chair, a smoking tumbler of mulled port before him,
sat my friend Mike, dressed in my full regimentals, even to the helmet,
which, unfortunately however for the effect, he had put on back foremost; a
short "dudeen" graced his lip, and the trumpet so frequently alluded to lay
near him.

Opposite him sat a short, puny, round-faced little gentleman with rolling
eyes and a turned up nose. Numerous sheets of paper, pens, etc., lay
scattered about; and he evinced, by his air and gesture, the most marked
and eager attention to Mr. Free's narrative, whose frequent interruptions,
caused by