day; and
early on the following morning we arrived in sight of Flanders and
there brought up at anchor. Very shortly some small vessels came
alongside to convey us to the quay at Ostend, where we landed, and
after marching about half a mile we came to a canal, where we embarked
in large open barges, in which we were towed by horses past Bruges,
about twelve miles off Ostend, to Ghent, which at a wide guess might
be twice the same distance further. We landed at Ghent and lay there
about nine days, while Louis XVIII. was staying in the town, he
having been obliged to flee from Paris by that old disturber after a
short reign of about ten months.

At the end of the nine days the drums beat at midnight, and we arrayed
ourselves in marching order as quickly as possible. The landlord of
the house where I was staying had got up, and would kindly insist on
filling our canteens--that is a capacity of about three pints--with
gin, giving us as well some bread and meat each, and warning us to
look out, for he knew the French were coming. All having assembled at
the rendezvous, orders were given to march on to Brussels immediately.
I could not exactly say what the distance was, but it was probably not
less than forty miles, taking us two days of hard marching to
accomplish it.

CHAPTER XXII.

Waterloo -- Dreadful night before the battle -- Opening of the
battle -- Unpleasant contiguity with a shell -- A recruit taken
suddenly and conveniently ill -- The regiment in the thick of it
-- Rout of Napoleon's Bodyguards -- Repeated charges of the
French infantry and cavalry successfully repulsed -- Lawrence in
charge of the colours -- Death of his captain -- Gallant stand of
the British until the arrival of the Prussians -- Lawrence on the
tactics of the enemy -- The French finally driven off the field
by Blucher's army -- Bivouac on the enemy's ground -- Fatal
results of trifling with a powder-wagon -- Lawrence's supper in
danger -- He invites a guest to supper, who, however, takes
French leave -- On the march again.

On the 17th of June, 1815, we marched through Brussels, amid the joy
of the inhabitants, who brought us out all manner of refreshments. I
heard some remarks from them to the effect that we were all going to
be slaughtered like bullocks, but we only laughed at this, telling
them that that was nothing new to us. Some of the younger recruits,
however, were