ld Anstey, a young
ensign of marines, as he stood on the deck of H.M.S. _Narcissus_, and
strained his eyes towards the direction of Buenos Ayres.

'I expect so,' answered a brother-officer who was by his side. 'But
hallo, Anstey! here is the General's orderly--what is up, I wonder?'

A trim private advanced towards Anstey, and said respectfully: 'The
General wishes to see you in his cabin, sir.'

'The General! To see _me!_' ejaculated Anstey, turning to his friend in
utter amazement. 'What can he want with me?'

'To consult you as to the best manner of landing the troops, perhaps,'
laughed his friend, for Anstey was the youngest ensign in the regiment.
'But you had better make haste and present yourself, for Sir Popham
Horne is not the man to be kept waiting.'

Anstey hurried away. On entering the General's cabin he saluted, and
then waited to receive the orders of his commanding officer.

'Mr. Anstey,' said the General, looking up, 'I have sent for you, as
junior officer, as I wish you, immediately on landing, to proceed to the
Governor of Buenos Ayres and give him these dispatches, proposing to him
the unconditional surrender of the town, as I am anxious to prevent
useless shedding of blood. You will take a corporal and two men with you
as guard, and of course a flag of truce, and I hope you may be
successful in your mission.'

'I will do my best, sir,' said Anstey, quietly. Then the General
returned to his map, and the young man left the cabin.

Meanwhile, the preparations for landing were being rapidly proceeded
with, and some twenty-four hours later men and guns were all safely
landed on the sandy shore, and all eager to march towards the city.
First of all, however, they had to wait for the return of Anstey, and
hear whether his terms had been accepted by the Spanish Governor.
Towards sunset the young ensign came back, and great was the excitement
among the whole force on hearing that the Governor had refused the terms
offered by the British General, and that the march towards Buenos Ayres
was to begin at dawn on the following day.

It seemed as if this march would present no great difficulty either to
men or guns, as the plain to be traversed was an immense flat, green
meadow, which promised an easy road for the cannon. But the 'green
meadow,' which proved so satisfactory at first, became softer and looser
as they got further inland, and finally it ended in a treacherous bog,
which threatened to engulf