[60] It was a frequent custom, when in want of a guide, to employ a peasant, who received a dollar at the end of his day's journey. These Pizanos, being accustomed to pastoral lives, were well acquainted with every inch of ground or by-path for leagues around their habitations, as well as the various fords across rivers and tributary streams, the depth of which depends on the season of the year, or the quantity of rain that might happen to fall at uncertain periods on these mountains.
[61] On the 29th, at the end of four days' fighting, both Marshals desisted from hostilities in front of Pampeluna. The French employed themselves in edging off to their right to assist the Count d'Erlon, who had followed the march of General Hill by Lanz. The Marquis of Wellington, on the other hand, was drawing in the seventh division to insure a communication with General Hill, and also watching his adversary's movements, to take advantage of what might accrue on the morrow.
[62] This firing was near Lizasso, where the enemy endeavoured to turn General Hill's left flank by the road to Buenzu, and while the Count d'Erlon was striving to execute this movement, the light division, unknowingly, were marching on his right flank: however, the General-in-chief being still in position in front of Pampeluna, finding that the Duke of Dalmatia had weakened his left and centre, to support the Count d'Erlon, immediately countermanœuvred, and attacked the right of his opponent with the sixth and seventh divisions, under Lord Dalhousie, and the left with the third division, and then pierced the centre of the enemy with the fourth division and General Byng's brigade of the second division, and thus before sunset pushed back the enemy beyond Olacque. By this attack the left flank of the Count d'Erlon became uncovered, which obliged him to fall back during the night, towards the pass of Donna Maria, to avoid falling into the snare originally intended for his adversary.
[63] One of the first I saw wounded was Capt. Perceval, of the rifle corps. "Well," said he, "I am a lucky fellow, with one arm maimed and useless by my side from an old wound, and now unable to use the other."
END OF VOL. I.
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NAVAL AND MILITARY TALES,
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1. TALES OF A TAR. By one of the Authors of "The Naval Sketch Book." In 1 vol. post 8vo.
Contents:—The Breeze at Spithead—Jack a Biographer—Kind Inquiries—Command O'Mind—Sailor Sal—Dreams at Sea—A Brush in the Boats—A "Call" for the Cat.