said, "soon after the enemy began to
retreat, but never quitted the field, and returned to my duty in less
than half an hour."

We must appeal to his brother Savery for the actual facts. "Isaac was
wounded," said Savery, in reply to a request for particulars, "and his
life was in all probability preserved by the stout cotton handkerchief
which, as the air was very cold, he wore over a thick black silk cravat,
both of which were perforated by a bullet, and which prevented it
entering his neck. The violence of the blow, however, was so great as to
stun and dismount him, and his holsters were also shot through."

That the action had been a hot one can be best judged by the official
returns. Out of 391 rank and file of the 49th in the field, there were
110 casualties--30 killed, 50 wounded and 30 missing. Savery Brock
shared the honours with his brother. Oblivious to a hurricane of
bullets, he rode from sand-hill to sand-hill, encouraging the men until
his truancy was noticed and he was halted by Isaac. "By the Lord Harry,
Master Savery," shouted the colonel, loud as he could pitch his powerful
voice, as the big paymaster strode by, his horse having been shot under
him, "did I not order you, unless you remained with the General, to stay
with your iron chest? Go back, sir, immediately." To which Savery
answered, playfully, "Mind your regiment, Master Isaac. You surely would
not have me quit the field now." Of this intrepid brother Isaac wrote,
"Nothing could surpass Savery's activity and gallantry." Another of the
wounded at Egmont was Lord Aylmer, afterwards Governor-General of
British North America. The loss of the enemy was estimated at 4,000. Two
weeks later the British troops--while suffering intensely from severe
weather--met with a reverse in the field, to which, through a
misunderstanding of orders, their Russian allies contributed. The Duke
of York was ordered to evacuate the country. The campaign had resulted
in much experience and high honour for Brock. Quick to perceive and
learn, his powers of observation on the field had enriched his mind with
lessons in the tactics of war never to be forgotten.

[Illustration: PORTRAIT OF COLONEL JAMES FITZGIBBON]

In the ranks of the 49th was a young Irishman of superior talents. Brock
was not slow to discover his abilities, and "with a discrimination that
honoured both," he later appointed this combative private
sergeant-major. Still later he procured him an ensigncy in