I tried to cover myself beneath the straw, but in vain; and as my limbs trembled and my teeth chattered, I thought again of home, where, at that moment, the poorest menial of my uncle's house was better lodged than I; and strange to say, something of pride mingled with the thought, and in my lonely heart a feeling of elation cheered me.
These reflections were interrupted by the sound of a voice near me, which I at once knew to be O'Shaughnessy's; he was on foot, and speaking evidently in some excitement.
"I tell you, Maurice, some confounded blunder there must be; sure, he was left in the cottage near the bridge, and no one ever saw him after." "The French took it from the Rifles before we crossed the river.

By Jove! I'll wager my chance of promotion against a pint of sherry, he'll turn up somewhere in the morning; those Galway chaps have as many lives as a cat." "See, now, Maurice, I wouldn't for a full colonelcy anything would happen to him; I like the boy." "So do I myself; but I tell you there's no danger of him.

Did you ask Sparks anything ?" "Ask Sparks! God help you! Sparks would go off in a fit at the sight of me.
No, no, poor creature! it's little use it would be my speaking to him." "Why so, Doctor!" cried I, from my straw couch.
"May I never, if it's not him! Charley, my son, I'm glad you're safe.
'Faith, I thought you were on your way to Verdun by this time." "Sure, I told you he'd find his way here--But, O'Mealey, dear, you're mighty could,--a rigor, as old M'Lauchlan would call it." "E'en sae, Maister Quill," said a broad Scotch accent behind him; "and I canna see ony objection to giein' things their right names." "The top of the morning to you," said Quill, familiarly patting him on the back; "how goes it, old Brimstone ?" The conversation might not have taken a very amicable turn had M'Lauchlan heard the latter part of this speech; but, as happily he was engaged unpacking a small canteen which he had placed in the wagon, it passed unnoticed.
"You'll nae dislike a toothfu' of something warm, Major," said he, presenting a glass to O'Shaughnessy; "and if ye'll permit me, Mr.O'Mealey, to help you--" "A thousand thanks, Doctor; but I fear a broken arm--" "There's naething in the whiskey to prevent the proper formation of callus." "By the rock of Cashel, it never made any one callous," said O'Shaughnessy, mistaking the import of the phrase.
"Ye are nae drinking frae the flask ?" said the doctor, turning in some agitation towards Quill.
"Devil a bit, my darling.

I've a little horn convaniency here, that holds half-a-pint, nice measure." I don't imagine that our worthy friend participated in Quill's admiration of the "convaniency," for he added, in a dry tone:-- "Ye may as weel tak your liquor frae a glass, like a Christian, as stick your nose in a coo's horn." "By my conscience, you're no small judge of spirits, wherever you learned it," said the major; "it's like Islay malt!" "I was aye reckoned a gude ane," said the doctor, "and my mither's brither Caimbogie had na his like in the north country.

Ye may be heerd tell what he aince said to the Duchess of Argyle, when she sent for him to taste her claret." "Never heard of it," quoth Quill; "let's have it by all means.