On the
fourth afternoon after his arrival, a letter was put into his hands, (just
as the cloth was drawn, and the party were going to discuss the
superlative merits of some genuine _poteen_,) which the servant said had
been brought by a man, who waited in the hall. It was from Colonel ----,
and briefly stated that peremptory orders had just been received from
head-quarters, that all officers absent on leave should instantly return
to duty. This was a disagreeable piece of intelligence, particularly at
that hour, but _necessitas non habet legem_, as Dr. Birch used to tell our
hero at school--the orders were imperative. Long and loud were the laments
and remonstrances of the party, we are assured. After ordering Dart to be
saddled, the Lieutenant stepped into the hall to have a moment's survey of
the bearer of the letter, who the Colonel informed him in a postscript was
a man well acquainted with the country, and would safely guide him back
to ----. He found a tall, lumbering sort of fellow, one of the "finest
pisantry in the world," whose appearance was not much in his favour.
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