ord across which the Portuguese had waded on the
morning of the second assault. Beyond it shone the sandhills,
hiding our batteries.

He sat down on the bank and pulled off boots and socks, preparing to
wade; but turned at a slight sound.

The child had followed him and stood half-way down the ruins of the
breach, wistful, uncertain.

In a rage, as one threatens off an importunate dog, Sergeant Wilkes
waved an arm. The child turned and slunk away, back into San
Sebastian.

THE COPERNICAN CONVOY.

[The story is told by Will Fleming, of the Inner Temple,
Barrister-at-law, and sometime Cornet of the 32nd Troop of Horse in
the Parliament Army, then (December, 1643) quartered at Farnham, on
the Hants border.]

CHAPTER I.

I dare say that, since the world began and men learned to fight, was
never an army moderately prosperous and yet fuller of grumblers than
was ours during the latter weeks of November and the first fortnight
of December, 1643. In part the blame lay upon our general, Sir
William Waller, and his fondness for night attacks and beating up of
quarters. He rested neither himself nor his men, but spent them
without caring, and drove not a few to desert in mere fatigue.
This was his way, and it differed from the way of my Lord Essex, who
rather spilled his strength by lethargy and grieved over it.
'Twas notorious these two generals loved not one another: and 'tis
not for me, who never served under Essex, to take sides. But I will
say this for General Waller--that he spared himself as little as any
common soldier; never forgot the face of a good servant; and in
general fed his men well and hated arrears of pay like the devil.

Nevertheless, and hate it though he might, our pay was in arrears.
Moreover, apart from their fatigue of marching and counter-marching,
the bulk of our infantry had been drawn from the London train-bands--
the Red Westminster Regiment and the Auxiliaries, Green and Yellow,
of London City and the Tower Hamlets; tradesmen, that is to say, who
wearied to be home again with their wives and families after six
months' separation, and others (such as the White Regiment of
Auxiliaries) freshly drafted, that had scarce got over the
remembrance of parting. These regiments, too, comprised many score
of apprentices, whom Parliament allowed to count their time of
military service as though it had been spent with their masters: and
as apprentice and master marched side by sid