XXIII.

Nial was there, and swift he led his men With rapid fire the strong redoubt to storm. Their dark attire the French mistaking then For garb of Southron soldiers, forth they swarm, And face our caçadores in conflict warm. Sudden their charge, and struggling hand to hand, The firelock and its fixéd bayonet form Against the unarméd rifle surer brand, And shrill the Frenchmen cried as backward drew the band.