In his report of his operations, before and subsequent to the battle of Talavera, Lord Wellington mentions, more than once, that his left during his advance was covered by the partisan corps of Wilson and O'Connor; and mentions, too, that it was by messengers from Colonel O'Connor that he first learned how formidable a force was in his rear, and was therefore able to cross the Tagus and escape from his perilous position.

Of course, it never entered my mind that the officer who had rendered such valuable service was so young a man.
"There is only one mystery left.

How was it, when you and Mr.Ryan escaped from Bayonne, that you are found in a boat in the Bay of Saint Malo ?" "It does seem rather a roundabout way of rejoining," Terence said, with a smile.

"We escaped in a boat and made along the north coast of Spain but, when off Santander, were blown out to sea in a gale, and were picked up by a French privateer.

We were supposed to be two Spanish fishermen and, as the privateer was short of boats, they took ours and enrolled us among their crew.