It settled him completely, and of course I never got my seven hundred rupees.

Such are the uncertainties of war! To strap on my sabre and my accoutrements--to mount my Arab charger--to drink off what O'Gawler had left of the sangaree--and to gallop to the General, was the work of a moment.

I found him as comfortably at tiffin as if he were at his own house in London.
"General," said I, as soon as I got into his paijamahs (or tent), "you must leave your lunch if you want to fight the enemy." "The enemy--psha! Mr.Gahagan, the enemy is on the other side of the river." "I can only tell your Excellency that the enemy's guns will hardly carry five miles, and that Cornet O'Gawler was this moment shot dead at my side with a cannon-ball." "Ha! is it so ?" said his Excellency, rising, and laying down the drumstick of a grilled chicken.

"Gentlemen, remember that the eyes of Europe are upon us, and follow me!" Each aide-de-camp started from table and seized his cocked hat; each British heart beat high at the thoughts of the coming melee.

We mounted our horses and galloped swiftly after the brave old General; I not the last in the train, upon my famous black charger.
It was perfectly true, the enemy were posted in force within three miles of our camp, and from a hillock in the advance to which we galloped, we were enabled with our telescopes to see the whole of his imposing line.
Nothing can better describe it than this:-- ________________________________ .................................