CHAPTER XVIII.
"The shrieks of agony and clang of arms
Re-echo to the fierce alarms."
Beattie.
The period next approached which made Douglas a father, but that event was destined to render him a widower.
Ere the months of mourning were expired he found himself appointed to the staff, for which his military studies had extensively qualified him. But no sooner had he entered upon the labours of his new situation, than in consequence of a sudden insurrection among the native troops, the whole of the British forces in that district were collected for the purpose of entirely reducing the extensive country to peace and order.
In the engagement which followed, Colonel Harcourt and Major Douglas rendered themselves most conspicuous by their valour, with this difference however, that the bravery of Douglas, cool and intrepid, was guided by discretion, while Harcourt's bordered upon rashness; twice was he warned by the officer in command to be more temperate in his zeal, to join a greater moderation to his courage—hazard-
