"No," said the officer, "he has not advanced; but the rear--guard were cut
off by the Prussians, and the light, with the grenadiers, are now in
Cuxhaven."

"Well," replied the general, "but how come you here?"

"Why, Marshal, we were detached to seize a depot of provisions in a
neighbouring village, and had made preparations to carry them off, when we
were attacked through a gap in the dike, by some armed boats from an
English squadron, and hearing a distant firing at the very moment, which I
concluded to be the Prussian advance, I conceived all chance of rejoining
the main army at an end, and therefore I shoved off in the grain--boats,
and here I am."

"Glad to see you, however," said the general, "but sorry for the cause why
you have returned.--Who have we got here--what boy is that?"

"Why," responded the colonel, "that lad is one of the British officers of
the force that attacked us."

"Ha," said the general again, "how did you capture him?"

"The boat (one of four) in which he was, was blown to pieces by a
six--pound shot. He was the only one of the enemy who swam ashore. The
rest, I am inclined to think, were picked up by the other boats."

"So," grumbled the general, "British ships in the Elbe!"

The colonel continued. "I hope, Marshal, you will allow him his parole? he
is, as you see, quite a child."