“Tut, tut, man! I have the same sort of feeling, but I keep it down with a drop of the _cratur_,” answered the Captain, as he handed his calabash to the Major. A Sergeant Fleming, a brave soldier, before mentioned in these Memoirs, coming up, informed Major O’Hare that a ladder-party was wanted. “Take the right files of the leading sections,” was the prompt order of the Major. No sooner said than done. I and my front-rank men were immediately tapped on the shoulder for the ladder-party. I now gave up all hope of ever returning. At Rodrigo, as before stated, we had fatigue parties for the ladders, but now the case was altered; besides which the ladders, now in preparation, were much longer than those employed at that fortress. I may just mention, that whatever were my own forebodings on the occasion, the presentiments of our brave old Major O’Hare and those of Captain Jones were fatally realized, for in less than twenty minutes after the above conversation, both fell riddled with balls. The word was now given to the ladder-party to move forward. We were accompanied at each side by two men with hatchets to cut down any obstacle that might oppose them, such as _chevaux-de-frise_. There were six of us supporting the ladder allotted to me, and I contrived to carry my grass-bag before me.[13] We had proceeded but a short distance when we heard the sound of voices on our right, upon which we halted, and supposing they might be enemies, I disengaged myself from the ladder, and cocking my rifle, prepared for action. Luckily we soon discovered our mistake, as one of our party cried—“Take care! ’Tis the stormers of the fourth division coming to join us.” This proved to be the case. This brief alarm over, we continued advancing towards the walls, the Rifles, as before, keeping in front. We had to pass Fort St. Roche on our left, near to the town, and as we approached it the French sentry challenged. This was instantly followed by a shot from the fort and another from the walls of the town. A moment afterwards, a fire-ball was thrown out, which threw a bright red glare of light around us, and instantly a volley of grape-shot, canister, and small arms poured in among us, as we stood on the glacis, at a distance of about thirty yards from the walls.