With Moore at Corunna | Page 4

he has made half the lads as wild as he is himself. Sure
you can never be after asking me to saddle the regiment with him, now
that there is a good chance of getting quit of him altogether."
"I think that he would not be so bad when we are out there, Colonel; it
is just because he has nothing to do that he gets into mischief. With
plenty of hard work and other things to think of I don't believe that he
would be any trouble."
"Do you think that you can answer for him, O'Connor?"
"Indeed and I cannot," the captain laughed; "but I will answer for it that
he will not joke with you, Colonel. The lad is really steady enough, and
I am sure that if he were in the regiment he would not dream of playing
tricks with his commanding officer, whatever else he might do."
"That goes a long way towards removing my objection," the colonel

said, with a twinkle in his eye; "but he is too young for a volunteer--a
volunteer is the sort of man to be the first to climb a breach, or to risk
his life in some desperate enterprise, so as to win a commission. But
there is another way. I had a letter yesterday from the Horse Guards,
saying that as I am two ensigns short, they had appointed one who will
join us at Cork, and that they gave me the right of nominating another. I
own that Terence occurred to me, but sixteen is the youngest limit of
age, and he must be certified and all that by the doctor. Now Daly is
away on leave, and is to join us at Cork; but O'Flaherty would do; still,
I don't know how he would get over the difficulty about the age."
"Trust him for that. I am indeed obliged to you, Colonel."
"Don't say anything about it, O'Connor; if we had been going to stay at
home I don't think that I could have brought myself to take him into the
regiment, but as we are going on service he won't have much
opportunity for mischief, and even if he does let out a little--not at my
expense, you know--a laugh does the men good when they are wet
through and their stomachs are empty." He rang a bell. "Orderly, tell
the adjutant and Doctor O'Flaherty that I wish to see them. Mr. Cleary,"
he went on, as soon as the former entered, "I have been requested by
the Horse Guards to nominate an ensign, so as to fill up our ranks
before starting, and I have determined to give the appointment to
Terence O'Connor."
"Very well, sir, I am glad to hear it; he is a favourite with us all, but I
am afraid that he is under age."
"Is there any regular form to be filled up?"
"None that I know of in the case of officers, sir. I fancy they pass some
sort of medical examination at the Horse Guards, but, of course, in this
case it would be impossible. Still, I should say that, in writing to state
that you have nominated him, it would be better to send a medical
certificate, and certainly it ought to be mentioned that he is of the right
age."
At this moment the assistant-surgeon entered. "Doctor O'Flaherty," the

colonel said, "I wish you to write a certificate to the effect that Terence
O'Connor is physically fit to take part in a campaign as an officer."
"I can do that, Colonel, without difficulty; he is as fit as a fiddle, and
can march half the regiment off their legs."
"Yes, I know that, but there is one difficulty, Doctor, he is under the
regulation age."
O'Flaherty thought for a moment and then sat down at the table, and
taking a sheet of paper, be began:
I certify that Terence O' Connor is going on for seventeen years of age,
he is five feet eight in height, thirty-four inches round the chest, is
active, and fully capable of the performance of his duties as an officer
either at home or abroad.
Then he added another line and signed his name.
"As a member of a learned profession, Colonel," he said, gravely, "I
would scorn to tell a lie even for the son of Captain O'Connor;" and he
passed the paper across to him.
The colonel looked grave, and Captain O'Connor disappointed. He was
reassured, however, when his commanding officer broke into a laugh.
"That will do well, O'Flaherty," he said; "I thought that you would find
some way of getting us out of the difficulty."
"I have told the strict truth, Colonel," the doctor said, gravely. "I have
certified that Terence O'Connor is going on for seventeen; I