Perceiving at a glance that they were pressing for the bridge, in order to replenish their pockets with stones, the word “Charge” was given, and away we darted at the double, H——, himself, drawing his sword and cutting at the thin air a slashing swish, just to let them see it was the genuine cold steel he was leading us with, but—bless the boys!—away they went, helter-skelter, before our colonel had authorised us to use the butt-ends of our guns if necessary.
They beat us, though, in activity, and kept up their chaff while running away. H——, I remember overtook the ringleader, who had a head like a mop, while his garments, such as they were, happened to be made of patches of old uniforms, partially tattered and torn.
This fellow, with a jeer enough to provoke a saint, exclaimed “Shure we’ll meet yer on Saturday afternoon, at Tom-all-alones, ye know the locality, I believe.”
“Agreed,” replied our leader, who brought us to the halt with no great reluctance, being himself a stout lad of about fifteen years of age.
“We are masters of the field at any rate,” he said.
Not one of our party failed to cheer at the unexpected retreat of our opponents; we were ill-matched so far as numbers, and stone-throwing powers were concerned, but as H—— explained, we should have a better chance on next meeting, as the soil was of clay at Tom-all-alones, which is situated below the Brompton barracks, where there were at that time model earth-works, and the sites of recently sprung mines to take possession of.
We agreed also upon the advisability of securing the services of the naval brigade, which had among those enrolled, some schoolfellows, including my brother, who was just fifteen months my senior, and thoroughly in advance of me, and indeed of his years, as regards acts of downright daring.
On the following half-holiday, the combined forces, composed of day-scholars, proceeded in two divisions to the proposed scene of action. As it happened, we were the first on the ground, and no time was lost in taking possession of an earth-work, or rather clay-work, not long thrown up by Colonel Paisley and his Engineer detachment. Guessing what would be the tactics of the rebels, no time was lost in preparing a pile of balls, as in all probability we should be attacked with such, at the commencement of the expected onslaught.
Having added to our numbers since the last brush, we awaited with confidence an attack, nor were we long in doubt as to the arrival of the enemy, as their outposts were descried in the distance, and soon a scattered and disorderly force appeared on the rising ground to our left; on they rushed, without any apparent organisation, but this time they had sticks in their hands, and some were seen to have something in their pocket handkerchiefs which were slung on one arm.
The Brompton lads had evidently heard that we were at the place appointed, but they halted on perceiving how favourably we had established ourselves, and that we had manufactured a conical heap of clay balls. It was not long before they followed suit, their bull-headed leader, who gave the challenge, being conspicuous by his clothes and size. While thus preparing for an attack they withdrew to a heap of moist clay, where they could be seen pressing the earth into round shot. Some one of ours proposed to sally out and disperse them, but H—— thought we had better hold our own, as possession of an earth-work was nine points in our favour.