counteraction of pain was manifest on his countenance. I see him now, and I almost feel the sensation I had when his sword was within an inch of my heart, but was parried off by the bayonet of one of the rank and file. His fate was that of all his comrades, and their blood commingled with his on the same spot.

It was a day of great fatigue and anxiety. The enemy maneuvered well; but we had a glorious commander. The renowned Wellington led us to victory. We left the country all around strewed indeed, with our own dead, and those of our Portuguese allies, who certainly fought bravely; but far more thickly strown with the dead of the French, almost resembling, at a distance, a sleeping camp.

After the fatigues of the day we were called together by the sound of the bugle, and as we had tasted no refreshment for the whole day, and were well wearied with standing, running, and fighting, it was with delight that we saw the fires kindling around us, the cookery prepared, and the provisions ready for our craving appetites. We ate like huntsmen, and such indeed we had been, though our game was not beasts, but men -and having satiated our appetites, we threw ourselves on the ground and reposed—but not indeed quite soundly; for I at least often started

from my earthy pillow-dreamt of the battlefield, and killed my Frenchman over again.

As we understood that the battle might, notwithstanding our advantages, possibly be renewed the next morning, and as our position in particular was an object of envy to the enemy, we were early awake, and under arms. Dick and I were seated together, taking our breakfast, and talking over the adventures of the preceding day. I observed that he was still dis-spirited, and while I made a hearty meal, he scarcely ate a mouthful.

"The scenes of yesterday," said he, “ were horrible. All my feelings were harrowed up."

Feelings, Dick," said I, "now let us lay aside such lady-talk; let old matrons and pretty misses in their teens talk about feelings; but you know that is all nonsense for a soldier must have none. Why I would as soon stick a Frenchman as a fly."

we

"I cannot quite divest myself so much of the sympathies of human nature," said Dick, "say what you will; men were never made to kill each other. I must confess, if we come to moralize upon it, I could better advocate the cause of the cannibal than of the warrior. He kills because he wants to eat, but the warrior kills because"

"Because," interrupted I, "if he does not kill his foe, as I believe the brave Marlborough said, his foe will kill him.”

"Well, really," said Dick, " as I looked at one of the fine regiments yesterday, just before we came to the attack, I could not but half drop a tear at the thought of so many noble fellows being, before sun-set, numbered with the dead. And then I thought of widowed mothers and brotherless sisters—and wailing lovers and desolate wives, all of whom might be spared their sorrows, but for our fatal conflict. 'Heaven,' said I to myself, have pity upon them!' After all, George, I feel some relief in pity—it is certainly a fine feeling."

This sort of conversation would soon have unmanned one; I was therefore obliged to repel it, and with all the force of Demosthenes I exclaimed,

66

For the love of all the gods,

Let's leave the hermit pity with our mother; And when we have our armours buckled on, The venom'd vengeance ride upon our swords." The last word died away amidst the rattle of a fire of musketry. The thick mist of the morning, which often prevails in this country, had served to conceal the stolen march of a numerous body of the enemy's troops. He was almost

We had no time for ceremony, or it upon us. would soon have been with us sauve qui peut. On the impulse of the moment every one rushed to arms and to his place, and Dick and I did not even squeeze each other by the hand.

We soon formed, but only just in time to receive the French. Their onset was tremendous. They fought like tigers-we returned their attack like lions. They shouted and roared, and so did we. Our stand was firm-the enemy gave way, and we were once more in hot pursuit, till recalled sooner than we wished by the prudence of our commander.

A neighbouring village was this day the scene of the chief conflict; and in taking and re-taking it, hundreds of lives were lost. The church, which formed a sort of castle, was alternately defended and attacked by either party, till we again obtained the vantage-ground, and the French finally retreated.

We had now good quarters for the night in the fractured houses. They were indeed, not so comfortable as many of our stables, but still they were good habitations for weary soldiers, who had as yet been unable to pitch any tents, and had slept beneath the canopy of the sky. The slaughter among us had, however, this day been prodigious; and it was grievous to witness the

deficiency as we called for our companions. I looked in vain for Dick, and finding that he did not make his appearance, I paid a visit to the church, which was converted into a hospital. The surgeons were busy amputating; the wounded men were groaning, cursing, and praying; some were already dead; others were dying-they all looked like living corpses; and their cadaverous countenances were, many of them, shockingly mangled and drenched with human gore. My heart, for the first time, sickened at the spectacle. I could not possibly screw my courage up to behold it unmoved. But I cast my eyes hither and thither for a sight of my friend Dick. At length I beheld him; a cannon-ball had taken off both his legs. The stumps were amputated above the knee. I was deeply affected at his fate, and took his damp chilly hand into mine; he opened his eyes, and seeing me, faintly exclaimed, "O George, this is-glory!" and expired!