the summit, when we were caught up by a messenger bringing us the
captain's orders to get back as fast as we could. A despatch boat had
just anchored at Santa Cruz bringing news that in consequence of some
foreign complication a French squadron had been ordered to Tunis, and
would probably go on to the East. The Hercule was to join it
immediately. We tore down the mountain, rejoicing in the thought that we
were most likely going to do some firing, and after a passage of twenty
days, spent in all sorts of fighting drill, we cast anchor in the Bay of
Tunis, only to have a bucket of cold water thrown over our heads. The
complications on which we had built a whole structure of danger and
glory had passed away. The squadron we were to have joined had departed,
and orders awaited us to resume our interrupted cruise, and bear away
for South America. One piece of news was we were told was that the
expedition which was to go and avenge our last year's defeat at
Constantine was fitting out at Bona, and that my brother Nemours
commanded one of the brigades. Now my big ship was to revictual at
Algiers, and I besought the captain, who had a free hand, to touch at
Bona and give me a chance of seeing my brother. The passage from Tunis
to Bona was delayed by calms, and when we got in, I found to my great
regret that the expedition had started, but that a small column was
being formed which was to join it, starting on the following morning. At
this news I rushed to my captain, and calling all the resources of
persuasion and every wile of diplomacy to my aid, I strove to convince
him that there would be time for me, during his revictualling, whereat I
should be practically useless, to make a rush to the expeditionary force
and get back again, and that if the King, my father, knew I had happened
to be where I was, he would be much displeased at my turning my back on
an enterprise which was to avenge our national honour. There were no
telegraph wires in those days, and I contrived to get the desired
permission. Twenty-four hours later I turned soldier for the nonce, and