cent, for even now, in
the darkness, we could track out the great thoroughfares of the city,
follow the windings of the bay and harbour, and, by the lights on board,
detect the fleet as it lay at anchor. To the left, and for many a mile,
as it seemed, were seen twinkling the bivouac fires of the Austrian
army; while directly above our heads, glittering like a red star, shone
the solitary gleam that marked out the 'Monte Faccio.'

I was standing silently at De Barre's side, looking on this sombre
scene, so full of terrible interest, when he clutched my arm violently,
and whispered--'Look yonder; see, the attack has begun.'

The fire of the artillery had flashed as he spoke, and now, with his
very words, the deafening roar of the guns was heard from below.

'I told you he'd not wait for us, Tiernay. I told you how it would
happen!' cried he; then suddenly recovering his habitual composure of
voice and manner, he said, 'Now for our part, men; forwards!'

And away went the brave fellows, tearing up the steep mountain-side,
like an assault party at a breach. Though hidden from our view by the
darkness and the dense wood, we could hear the incessant din of large
and small arms; the roll of the drums summoning men to their quarters,
and what we thought were the cheers of charging squadrons.

Such was the mad feeling of excitement these sounds produced, that I
cannot guess what time elapsed before we found ourselves on the crest of
the mountain, and not above three hundred paces from the outworks of
the fort. The trees had been cut away on either side, so as to offer
a species of glacis, and this must be crossed under the fire of the
batteries, before an attack could be commenced. Fortunately for us,
however, the garrison was too confident of its security to dread a _coup
de main_ from the side of the town, and had placed all their guns along
the bastion, towards Borghetto, and this De Barre immediately detected.
A certain 'alert' on the walls, however, and a quick movement of lights
here and there, showed that they had become aware of the sortie from
the town, and gradually we could see figure after figure ascending the
walls, as if to peer down into the valley beneath.

'You see what Vallence has done for us,' said De Barre bitterly; 'but
for him we should have taken these fellows, _en flagrant delit_, and
carried their walls before they could turn out a captain's guard.'

As he spoke a heavy crashing sound was heard, a