Sketches From My Life

Brigade on service in Spain, acting with the English army, who

part of the expedition consisted of 1,200 Royal Marines, and a brigade of sailors under the orders of Lord John Hay. The army (barrin

ate that these volunteers, though in appearance so motley and undisciplined, fought splendid

he first shot fired in anger.' The Carlists were pressing hard on the Queen's forces, who were returning towards the sea;

in mortal fear, and when a shell dropped right in the middle of us, and was, I thought, going to burst (as it did), I fell down on my face. Lord John, wh

d upon those who flinched at the first fire they were under. My pride helped me out of

anger, and when we (a lot I had to do with it!) drove

is hand (poor fellow! he had already lost one arm while fighting for his country), and said: 'Don't be discouraged,

suffice it that after much hard fighting the Carlists were driven back into their mountains so much discouraged

ven months, I was appointed to another ship, wh

as the same in thought and deed, so we were all as happy as sand-boys. It was then that I began to realise a fact of which before I had only a notion-namely, that dis

we remained nearly a year, during which time several adventures whic

love for shooting; and, through the kindness of my commanding offic

diately). I didn't like the cut of his jib, so rather snubbed him. However, he continued to ride on with us, to within half a mile of where our boat was waiting to take us on board. I must explain our relative positions as we rode along. The captain was on my left, I next to him, and the man was on my right, riding very near to me. All of a sudden he exclaimed in Spanish, 'Now is the time or never,' threw his right leg over the pommel of his s

he ruffian's knife had gone through my coat and pinned me), and the fellow snapping my gun, which was pointed at him, he as coolly as possible put his gun over his horse's shoulder and shot the would-be murderer dead on the spot. Then turning to me he sai

ense confidence these prairie people feel in themselves, especially in their

below the waist, through the upper part of my trousers, and so into the saddle,

nch man-of-war, the officers of which were very amiably inclin

nd each other were a constant source of amusement. A French midshipman and myself, however, considered ourselves equal to the occasion, an

right,' said we. Accordingly, we loaded our guns in the morning, preparatory to saluting at noon. It was raining heavily all the forenoon, so we had not removed what is called the tompions (to my unprofessional reader I may say tha

t was to attend to it had neglected

pions were not removed he added, 'Tompions are in, sir.' No one moved. The gunner could not leave his work of marking time. Again he gave the order, 'Fire, starboard,' repeating, 'Tompions are in, sir,' and so on till half the broadside had been fired before the tompions had been taken out. It is difficult to describe t

p most good-humouredly, begging me to return the tompions to my captain, as they had no occasion for them. So no bad feeling was created, though sho

g offered by the revolutionary party in Buenos Ayres for men to serve them. The French commander therefore determined to search all vessels lea

nant. Our doing this gave great offence to the French commander, who shortly after we had gone on board also sent a party of armed men, with positive orders to search the vessel at all risks. On our part we were ordered not to allow the vessel to be searched or interfered with. The French officer, a

sh protection. I give you five minutes to leave or take the consequences.' The other replied, 'Sir, I am ordered to search the vessel, and search her I will.' They both seemed to, and I am sure did, mean business; for myself, I got

the end of the two minutes the deck of the little vessel would have been steeped in blood. Just then, in the distance, there appeared a boat pulling towards us at

ndeed have been a fearful story to tell had it not arrived in time; for I never saw determination written so strongl

ablished between ourselves and our French friends; fort

ady for a lark! We at once went in for enjoying ourselves to our heart's content; we began, every one of us,

reet with a large bouquet in his hand, his hair well oiled, his coat (generally so loose and comfortable-looking) buttoned tight to show off his figure; and then he took to sporting beautiful kid gloves, and even to dancing. He could not be persuaded to go

e) Spanish girls of Buenos Ayres, whose type of beauty is that which only the blue blood of Spain can boast of. Now, reader, don't be shocked, I fell in love myself, and my love affair proved of a more serious nature,

't, of course, return the mother's affection a bit, wh

didn't object to our being married, but, in the meantime, she remained with us, and she managed to make the country home we had escaped to, with the intention of settling down there, so

ds we were ordered away, and

It was really most ludicrous. However, a sea voyage which included several sharp gales of wind soon erased all sad memo