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of Riflemen, the red uniforms of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, the blue of the Bengal Fusiliers and of the Artillery, and the serviceable karkee-coloured vestments of the Sikh regiment of infantry, are clustered pleasantly en masse below the ridge on which the cavalry are halted. There is an everlasting glint and glitter from the bright locks of the rifles, from steel ramrods, and polished beltplates and burnished buckles, as the sun's slanting rays fall upon them, and the whole makes up a scene in which the pomp and circumstance of war are so blended with its stern reality that it will not readily be effaced from the beholder's memory.

I like to look back upon all the picturesque details of the same, to see in recollection the horses, with their heads deep buried in their nosebags, feeding greedily-the men carving away with their pocket knives at the hunch of bread, or sucking down the "go of grog" which composes their frugal breakfast-the officers gathered in knots round doolies, wherein are pieces of cold beef and mutton, pleasant to the eyes of hungry men, but which are rapidly becoming "small by degrees and beautifully less:" while the meat receives a peculiarly racy and prononcé flavour from somebody insisting on carving it with the same knife that he uses for tobacco. The tops

of innumerable flasks, both wicker and leather, are being unscrewed, and the "dew off Ben Nevis" is fast evaporating, while it is astonishing how many people find it necessary to "correct acidity" by "nips" of " Exshaw's No. 1." There is a large display of cigar-cases, and short, black

pipes, accompanied by a strong smell of tobacco, very sweet and fragrant in the early morning air, and-But why dwell on trifles such as these, and leave unnoticed a very pleasing and prominent feature in the scene? A little to the left are gathered a group of officers "of high degree," and among them is one who, at this moment, is attentively observing through his glasses some of the enemy's videttes and cavalry, who are visible at a distance on some rising ground-a short, strongly built man, black haired, with a keen, twinkling eye, and a cheerful bright smile, and a kind word for all-dressed in a blue frock coat, and everlastingly puffing away at a cherootquiet in manner, cool, unwavering, and determined; -one whom neither the hottest and most deadly fire, the gravest responsibility, or the most perilous and critical juncture can excite or flurry-a knight sans peur et sans reproche-the "Bayard of India" -General Sir James Outram-of all the host here assembled the kindest hearted and the gallantest.

General Outram's character and services are too well known to need any praise from my pen; but there were many among us who, as they looked on him and thought of his brilliant career of forty years—thought of his exploits in days gone by against the rebels of Khandeish, the wild and savage Bheels-of his many deeds of personal valour and the bright romance which attaches itself to them-of his performances in the Affghan campaign, and in Lower Scinde, among the Mahrattas, and in Persia-of his political, as well as of his military, services-and

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more recently of the noble part he has borne during this rebellion, in the annals of which no act will stand out more gloriously, than that which, prompted by a chivalrous generosity, this noble soldier performed, when he served where he might have commanded, that he might so avoid robbing a gallant comrade, now, alas! no more, the illustrious Havelock-of the glory of leading the troops he had commanded so well to the relief of Lucknow-I say, there were many among us who, as they looked on the hero of all these deeds, felt that it was in truth an honour to serve under such a general.

All the world know the public services of General Outram; but all the world do not know by how many little acts of kindness and generosity he has endeared himself alike to officers and men; they do not know that, thanks to him, many of the regiments who entered Lucknow with Havelock and himself, and who were subsequently under his command at the Alum Bagh, enjoy at this moment books, papers, periodicals, cricketing things, and other amusements, wherewith to beguile the weary hours in camp, and which Sir James has provided them with at his own expense. These and many other like acts, I say, are not generally known, they have not been trumpeted loudly forth, but they are none the less appreciated by those who are acquainted with them: they are jewels which neither lose their lustre nor their value because enclosed in a case, or hidden in the mine; and to the warmth of devotion which they, and his many other qualities have called forth among all ranks, those who have served under him will readily testify.

There is one other characteristic of General Outram's which I must mention, for it is one which, alas is far from universal-I refer to that courtesy of demeanour which he invariably exhibits in his conversation with the lowest, as with the highest, of those with whom he may have to do; never for a moment forgetting in his position of commanding officer that he is a gentleman, or that he with whom he may be conversing, or to whom he may be giving an order, be it general or private soldier, has feelings and sensibilities like himself, which no rank, however exalted, gives the right to insult.

CHAPTER XV.

Pandy's Tactics--Outline of the Plan of Attack on LucknowCavalry Skirmish on the Race-course-Charge of the Queen's Bays--Death of Major Percy Smith-A Touch of Roughing it-The Night of March 6th.

By this time the nose-bags are empty, and the maws of the hungry ones are filled-the black pipes have been smoked down to mere ash, and the cheroots are beginning to burn the lips that hold them-and, in short, our hasty meal is over. "Attention!" and in a moment the mass of men are reformed in their even ranks, the cavalry are upon their horses, and all is ready for a start. It would be difficult to describe the route we took that day without a plan on which to mark it out, and my best course will therefore be, to endeavour to explain the movements we were intended to execute, and the results which were expected to be derived therefrom.

I must first, however, observe that Pandy's knowledge, or at least his practice of strategy and tactics is exceedingly limited; and that, luckily for us, he judges of his opponents by himself, never anticipating any originality of conception on their part, or giving them credit for more than one idea on any one given subject. Acting upon this, therefore, he obtusely imagines that the same operation must on all occasions be performed in exactly the same manner, and that if we wish to fight a battle or

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