And bid you wake and rise to fight and win."

But Brock's position was no sinecure. The regiment was in a badly
demoralized condition. The laxity of the late commanding officer had
created a deplorable state of things. To restore the lost _morale_ of
the corps was his first duty. The thoroughness of his reforms can be
best understood by quoting the words of the Duke of York, who declared
that "out of one of the worst regiments in the service Colonel Brock had
made the 49th one of the best."

From the Commander-in-Chief of a nation's army to a colonel--not yet
thirty--of a marching regiment, this was an exceptional tribute.

Isaac's persistent endeavours were rapidly bringing their own reward.

[Illustration: NAVY HALL, REMNANT OF THE OLD "RED BARRACKS,"
NIAGARA, 1797]

CHAPTER IV.

EGMONT-OP-ZEE AND COPENHAGEN.

Meanwhile the war cloud in Europe was growing apace. Holland had been
forced into an alliance with France. War, no longer a spectre, but a
grim monster, stalked the Continent. Everywhere the hostile arts of
Bonaparte were rousing the nations. The breezes that had stirred the
marshes of Havelet and awakened in Brock a sense of impending danger,
now a furious gale, swept the empires. The roll of drums and roar of
cannon that Isaac had listened to in his boyhood dreams were now
challenging in deadly earnest. The great _reveille_ that was awakening
the world was followed by the British buglers calling to arms the
soldiers of the King.

Notwithstanding the aversion of the English prime minister, Pitt, to
commence hostilities, war was unavoidable. One of the twelve battalions
of infantry selected for the front was the 49th. When the orders were
read for the regiment to join the expedition to Holland, wild excitement
prevailed in barracks. Active service had come at last. The parting of
Brock with his family was softened by maternal pride in his appearance.

The tunic of the 49th was scarlet, with short swallow-tails. The rolling
lapels were faced with green, the coat being laced with white, with a
high collar. The shako, which was originally surmounted by white
feathers with black tips, a distinction for services in the American
war of 1776, at Bunker's Hill and Brandywine, was, at Brock's special
request, replaced by a black plume. The officers wore their hair turned
up behind and fastened with a black "flash." The spectacle of Master
Isaac thus arrayed, in all the glory of epaulets and sabretac