“‘Very disorderly corps yours, Major O’Shaughnessy,’ said the general; ‘more men up for punishment than any regiment in the service.’
“Shaugh muttered something; but his voice was lost in a loud cock-a-doo-do-doo, that some bold chanticleer set up at the moment.
“‘If the officers do their duty, Major O’Shaughnessy, these acts of insubordination do not occur.’
“‘Cock-a-doo-do-doo,’ was the reply. Some of the staff found it hard not to laugh; but the general went on,—
“‘If, therefore, the practice does not cease, I’ll draft the men into West India regiments.’
“‘Cock-a-doo-do-doo.’
“‘And if any articles pillaged from the inhabitants are detected in the quarters, or about the person of the troops—’
“‘Cock-a-doo-do-doo,’ screamed louder here than ever.
“‘Damn that cock! Where is it?’
“There was a general look around on all sides, which seemed in vain; when a tremendous repetition of the cry resounded from O’Shaughnessy’s coat pocket,—thus detecting the valiant major himself in the very practice of his corps. There was no standing this: every one burst out into a peal of laughing; and Lord Wellington himself could not resist, but turned away, muttering to himself as he went, ‘Damned robbers—every man of them!’ while a final war-note from the major’s pocket closed the interview.”