fire to the houses from which the fatal shots had come, and turned the keys in the doors. In one single dwelling sixteen of the enemy were burnt alive. Those who were in the fight described it as a terrible initiation for recruits. Half the town was blazing; and with the incessant roar of the guns were mingled the piercing shrieks of wretches perishing in the flames. The struggle lasted four hours. By that time the Cameronians were reduced nearly to their last flask of powder: but their spirit never flagged. ‘The enemy will soon carry the wall. Be it so. We will retreat into the house: we will defend it to the last; and, if they force their way into it, we will burn it over their heads and our own.’ But, while they were revolving these desperate projects, they observed that the fury of the assault slackened. Soon the Highlanders began to fall back: disorder visibly spread among them; and whole bands began to march off to the hills. It was in vain that their general ordered them to return to the attack. Perseverance was not one of their military virtues. The Cameronians meanwhile, with shouts of defiance, invited Amalek and Moab to come back and to try another chance with the chosen people. But these exhortations had as little effect as those of Cannon. In a short time the whole Gaelic army was in full retreat towards Blair. Then the drums struck up: the victorious Puritans threw their caps into the air, raised, with one voice, a psalm of triumph and thanksgiving, and waved their colours, colours which were on that day unfurled for the first time in the face of an enemy, but which have since been proudly borne in every quarter of the world, and which are now embellished with the ‘Sphinx’ and the ‘Dragon,’ emblems of brave actions achieved in Egypt and in China.” “The Cameronians had good reason to be joyful and thankful; for they had finished the war.” The loss of the regiment did not exceed 70 men, whilst the rebels lost 300; but the death of their brave Commander, Colonel Cleland, was a source of great regret to the Cameronians. This desperate resistance, insignificant in itself, so cooled the fiery zeal of the clans, that, melting away like snow, General Cannon was compelled to retreat, and, soon without an army, to submit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XVII. “Farewell! ye dear partners of peril, farewell! Tho’ buried ye lie in one wide bloody grave, Your deeds shall ennoble the place where ye fell, And your names be enroll’d with the sons of the brave.” 1691–1862—THE NETHERLANDS—REBELLION, 1715—AMERICA—EGYPT—CORUNNA—WALCHEREN—INDIA—CHINA—CANADA.