As may be supposed, this affair made a great noise. The Provost-Marshal was directed to search, with the utmost care, the quarters and premises of all the regiments; but the fellow instinctively, I believe, turned towards those of my corps; and here, I am sorry to confess, he found that which he wanted, namely, the three sheep, part of them in a camp-kettle on the fire, and the remainder in an outhouse. This was enough. The three men were identified by the Portuguese, tried, flogged, and had to pay for the sheep, which (the worst of it!) they had not the pleasure of even tasting. But this example by no means put a stop to the evil. The sheep-folds were plundered, the shepherds pummelled, and our fellows flogged without mercy. General Picton at length issued orders, directing the rolls of the regiment to be called over by an officer of each company at different periods during the night, and by this measure the evil was remedied. But we did not get credit for even this. That pleasantest of all pleasant fellows, Bob Hardyman of the 45th, used to say, in jest, that instead of the officers going round the quarters, we entrusted the duty to a sergeant; and, according to Bob’s account, the manner of his performing the duty was as follows:— Arrived at the door, he gave a gentle tap, when voices from within called out, “Who’s there?” _Ser._ “It’s me, boys!” _Sol._ “And who are you?” _Ser._ “Why then, blur 'an ouns, boys, don’t yees know my voice?” _Sol._ “Och! and to be sure we do now.” _Ser._ “Well, boys, yees know what I’me come about.” _Sol._ “Sure we do, sergeant.” _Ser._ “Well, boys, are yees all within?” _Sol._ “Within, is it! to be sure we are; why, where else would we be?” _Ser._ “That’s right, boys! but boys, take care, are yees all in bed?” _Sol._ “In bed! sure we are, and all asleep too!!” _Ser._ “Och! that’s right, honies, it’s myself that’s proud to find yees grown so regular!” And having thus performed his duty, he wished them good-night. But poor Bob Hardyman was one of those sort of fellows that could say a thing (and make you laugh at it too, although at your own expense) that if another person attempted, he would get his teeth knocked down his throat; he verified a saying in his own county (Galway), that one man in that country might steal a horse with impunity, when another darn’t look over the hedge where he was grazing.