The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

58 The Highland Monthly.
became, as it were, a stepping-stone for the whole regiment,
until nothing remained of him in sight except his knapsack,
when the last man to employ him—being something of a
good Samaritan—dragged him forth ; how one of the company
was wounded in the retreat from Bourgos, and left
for dead, but opening his eyes after some hours, he arose
with difficulty, and beholding a gipsy with a donkey,
implored assistance, whereupon, being churlishly refused,
he took heart of grace, and toppling the rude fellow down
a steep bank, mounted his seat and galloped into quarters ;
how a soldier, bringing water to a wounded comrade after
Toulouse, was requested by the generous sufferer to relieve
first a Frenchman in agony of thirst, who was no sooner
refreshed than he turned and shot his prostrate benefactor,
how in the thick of
and thus quickly sealed his own doom ;
the awful carnage that attended the storming of Badajos,
one said, " Courage, Duncan, you and I shall yet stack fir
together on the peat moss of our township "—which, to be
sure, was a prophecy that turned out true ; and how—note
this above all, gentle reader—the humble private, at that
moment, glass in hand, proceeding to propose a toast of
immortal fame, had once, during action, been recognised
by the great Duke of Wellington—nay more, had received
direct personal instructions from the immortal Commanderin-chief.
It was thus that it came about :—At some
critical conjuncture in the fierce engagement of Quatre
Bras, Wellington galloped close up to a regiment which
occupied an advanced position, and seeing a soldier bleed-
ing profusely from wounds, and still endeavouring to do
his duty, the Duke actually addressed to him that memor-
able order, " Make for
is warm."
the rear, my man, while your blood
No wonder that the brave fellow looked back upon this
as the supreme event of his life, and considered that he
had received a special mark of honour from one who had
watched his career with approbation. Let none grudge
him a laudable pride, though it must be allowed that his