"The hounds are in the valley; keep to the left." As no reply was made, after a few moments' pause Conyers repeated his admonition, "You are wrong, my lord, the hounds are hunting yonder." "I know it!" was the brief answer given, with a shortness that almost savored of asperity; for a second or two not a word was spoken.
"How far is Niza, Gordon ?" inquired Lord Wellington.
"About five leagues, my lord," replied the astonished aide-de-camp.
"That's the direction, is it not ?" "Yes, my lord." "Let's go over and inspect the wounded." No more was said, and before a second was given for consideration, away went his lordship, followed by his aide-de-camp, his pace the same stretching gallop, and apparently feeling as much excitement, as he dashed onwards towards the hospital, as though following in all the headlong enthusiasm of a fox chase.
Thus passed our summer; a life of happy ease and recreation succeeding to the harassing fatigues and severe privations of the preceding campaign.
Such are the lights and shadows of a soldier's life; such the checkered surface of his fortunes.

Constituting, by their very change, that buoyant temperament, that happy indifference, which enables him to derive its full enjoyment from each passing incident of his career.
While thus we indulged in all the fascinations of a life of pleasure, the rigid discipline of the army was never for a moment forgotten.

Reviews, parades, and inspections were of daily occurrence, and even a superficial observer could not fail to detect that under this apparent devotion to amusement and enjoyment, our commander-in-chief concealed a deep stroke of his policy.
The spirits of both men and officers, broken, in spite of their successes, by the incessant privations they had endured, imperatively demanded this period of rest and repose.

The infantry, many of whom had served in the ill-fated campaign of Walcharen, wore still suffering from the effects of the intermittent fever.

The cavalry, from deficient forage, severe marches, and unremitting service, were in great part unfit for duty.