subject, by opening our breaching-battery with a
salvo, accompanied with such terrific cheering and shouting, as seemed
to startle the new-risen sun, which at that identical moment peeped from
behind its golden curtains to see what was the matter. The enemy, after
a moment's pause, were seen in a tremendous bustle, mustering their full
force; and their heads were so thick, that, had our shelling-battery
been ready, we might have made dreadful havoc among the motley group.
They shouted, yelled, screamed, groaned; small arms whistled, cannons,
roared; and, in an instant, the fort was enveloped in smoke. It was
altogether a most terrific scene. At this moment a soldier called out,
"Shipp, have you made your will?" I said "Yes; which is, that I will
lead you into that fort undaunted, for all their smoke and
rattle."--"Well done, Jack!" said one; "That's a hearty!" said another;
and many a joke followed; but, to confess the truth, I thought it no
joking matter, but wished most earnestly that I could say, with Macbeth,
"I have _done_ the deed." Notwithstanding this, I saw no cause for
fretting. Without parents, or ties of any other kind, I felt that I was
fully justified in acting

"As if a man were author of himself,
And knew no other kin."

My ambition was to signalize myself in the field of honour; and, if it
was to be my fate to fall, I consoled myself with the reflection, that I
could not die in a better cause than fighting for my king and country.
These were my real feelings; but the business that was going on during
the whole of this day, afforded me but little time for reflection.
Towards evening, however, we were relieved from the trenches, and
obtained some rest.

The next day I took another peep at the Pins, who were in immense
numbers in front of our piquets. My fingers itched to be among them, but
my last escape withheld me. It was truly tantalizing to see these
fellows chuckering their horses not more than a quarter of a mile from
our post; but what irritated us still more was, that these miscreants,
that evening, sent into our camp about twenty grass-cutters, belonging
to the 8th Dragoons, some with their right arms cut off at the
wrist-joint, and others with the loss of their noses and ears. These
poor creatures paid dearly for their disobedience of general orders,
which forbade any grass-cutter from going out alone; but, for the love
of plunder, they will at all times risk their lives. It will appe