commissariat, at that time was most deplorable; and although the town
of ---- was notoriously disaffected, the barrack chosen, temporarily,
to accommodate the garrison--a company of militia--was a thatched
building, two stories high, and perfectly commanded by houses in front
and rear. The captain in charge of the detachment knew nothing of his
trade, and had been hoisted to a commission in return for the use of
a few freeholders. The Irish read character quickly. They saw at a
glance the marked imbecility of the devoted man; and by an imposition,
from which any but an idiot would have recoiled, trapped the silly
victim and, worse still, sacrificed those who had been unhappily
intrusted to his direction.

That the express had ridden hard was evident from the distressed
condition of his horse; and the intelligence he brought deranged my
father's plans entirely. Any attempt either to proceed or to return,
as it appeared, would be hazardous alike; and nothing remained but to
halt where he was, until more certain information touching the rebel
operations should enable him to decide which would be the safest
course of action to pursue. He did not communicate the extent of his
apprehensions to the family,--affected an air of indifference he did
not feel,--introduced himself to the commanding officer on parade, and
returned to the inn in full assurance that, in conferring a commission
on a man so utterly ignorant of the trade he had been thrust into as
Captain --- appeared to be, "the King's press had been abused most
damnably."

The Colonel had a singular quality,--that of personal remembrance; and
even at the distance of years he would recall a man to memory, even
had the former acquaintance been but casual. Passing through the inn
yard, his quick eye detected in the ostler a _quondam_ stable-boy. To