, and quoted the old
tag, which, when so quoted, ceases to be trite: "Well, old fellow,
`Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori'; you see it's my case. It is
sweet and proper to die for one's country." Poor fellow! he did not
survive his wound twenty-four hours. He was a good swordsman, and an
excellent rider; and his impatience for an opportunity of distinguishing
himself had been remarked at every station he had passed on the march.

Several accounts have been published describing the way in which Major
Tombs saved the life of Lieutenant Hills. The following is among
them:--

"On the morning of the 9th of July an outlying post of the British camp
was unwisely confided to the care of a picket of the 9th Irregulars, who
had hitherto remained true to their colours. A large body of rebel
cavalry came down and talked them over, and were shown by them the way
into the camp. A body of cavalry who were in their way--an inlying
picket--proved for the moment unsteady, and thus the rebels reached the
post at which two of Major Tombs' guns were placed. This post--a mound
to the right of the camp--was under charge of Lieutenant Hills. At
about eleven o'clock there was a rumour that the enemy's cavalry were
coming down on his post. Instantly Lieutenant Hills hurried to the
spot, to take up the position assigned to him in case of alarm; but
before he reached the spot, and before there was time for his guns to
form up, he saw the enemy close upon them. Issuing rapid orders to his
sergeant, he charged single-handed the head of the enemy's column, cut
the first man down, struck the second, and was then ridden down, horse
and all. Rapidly recovering himself, however, he was attacked by three
of the enemy. One he killed outright, another he wounded; but, in a
combat with a third, he was brought to the ground. At that moment his
commanding officer, Major Tombs, galloped up, having crossed the path of
the enemy's cavalry, and escaped the certain death which would have been
his fate had he met them. Seeing the critical position of his
subaltern, he nobly charged his assailants, shot one and sabred the
other, and then dragged the lieutenant out from under his horse,
receiving, as he did so, a sword-cut on his head, but the thick turban
he wore saved it from injury. The enemy passed on to the native troop
of horse artillery, in the hopes of getting them to join; but, failing
this, galloped out of the camp.

"In the meantime, C