During our conversation, O'Reily, as was customary with him, became quite abstracted, and apparently absorbed in his own reflections, and upon our turning round we discovered him in one of Mendoza’s attitudes! “What are you squaring at?” demanded Maurice. “My good friend Quill,” replied O‘Reily, “I have long felt the difficulty of coming to a satisfactory conclusion as to the probability of science being eventually able to overcome savage strength. There is much, sir, to be said on both sides of the question, and I have great doubts concerning the battle about to be decided.”—“What battle? why, sure, we are not going to fight another so soon?” said Quill. “The fight to which I allude, sir,” said O‘Reily, with Quixote-like gravity—for he paused between every word—“is the one pending between Crib and the black man Molineux; it will be a contest of science against brute strength”—and he threw himself into one of the finest defensive attitudes I ever saw; “there,” said he, “there is the true science for you; nevertheless, it might be overcome by savage strength, and there is the rub, sir. I have devoted much time in endeavouring to come to a satisfactory conclusion on this point, but hitherto without effect, so I must await the issue of this fearful encounter; and, my dear Quill, having said so much on the subject, allow me to wish you a very good morning.” It was evident that, although Quill was no novice, O‘Reily had taken “a rise out of him,” and it afforded us matter of amusement for many a day after. We remained in Campo Mayor until the 27th of May (in order to allow the stores and battering train from Elvas to arrive), on which day we passed the Guadiana at a ford, distant from San Christoval about three cannon-shots; we received no interruption in our passage of the river, and the operation was performed without loss. The 28th, 29th, and 30th were taken up in marking out our camp, and constructing huts; and as the weather was beautiful, and our camp abundantly supplied by the peasantry, we passed a very agreeable time of it. The river ran within a few yards of us; its marshy banks being thickly covered with plantations of olives, afforded a delightful shade to us when we either went to fish or bathe. Its breadth at this point might be about sixty toises, and it is well stocked with fine mullet. We had several expert fishermen amongst us, and they contrived not only to supply their own tables with fish, but also to increase the comforts of their friends. CHAPTER IX Second siege of Badajoz—A _reconnoissance_—Death of Captain Patten—Attacks on Fort San Christoval—Their failure—Causes of their failure—Gallant conduct of Ensign Dyas, 51st Regiment—His promotion by the Duke of York.