"Let me at least die like a soldier--it is the only favour I ask."

His companions followed the colonel's example, and begged to be allowed
to die with eyes unbound. The general now ordered the officer in
command of the firing-party to hurry his preparations.

"As you have so many to dispose of, it would have made shorter work had
you placed them all together," he shouted out.

The rest of the prisoners had, in the meantime, been led on one side to
await their turn. The firing-party now advanced--the doomed men gazed
at them with pale, though undaunted countenances. The commanding
officer, in a loud, harsh voice, gave the usual order, "Make ready,"
"Present," then came the fatal word--"Fire!" Some fell forward, shot
dead; others were struggling and writhing on the ground; Colonel O'Regan
alone was standing upright. It was but for a moment; he was seen to
stagger forward, then to fall heavily on his face. Regardless of the
danger they ran from the firing-party, who advanced to plunge their
bayonets into the bodies of those who still had life in them, Tom and
Archy dashed forward with the idea of helping their unfortunate friend.
They attempted to raise him, but the expression of his countenance, and
the blood oozing from a wound in his breast, told them but too truly
that all was over; and had not their guards, who were alarmed on their
own account at having allowed them to escape, dragged them back they
would probably have been bayoneted on the spot. Just then an officer,
who came galloping up with looks of consternation on his countenance,
informed the general that his corvette, the chief vessel of his navy
with which he believed that he could defy the world, had struck her flag
to a British brig-of-war, and that his brig had been sent to the bottom.
The news produced an electric effect on him and his officers. He at
once gave orders that the surviving English prisoners should be
conducted back to gaol under charge of a small body of troops, while the
rest were marched off to the batteries.

"We have had a narrow escape," said Tom to Archy, not at the time aware
to what cause they were indebted for their preservation. "We ought
indeed to be thankful; but I would have given anything to have saved the
colonel. Poor Miss O'Regan, what will she do with no one to look after
her?"

"But we will do our best!" answered Archy; "and as I have a notion that
she will some day be my cousin, I have a sort of right, you