As at Egmont, the irrepressible conduct of Savery Brock on the Ganges gave our hero much concern.  Savery, as a former midshipman, was of course a gunner.  While training a quarter-deck gun on the Trekroner battery his hat was blown from his head and he was knocked down by the rush of wind from a grapeshot.  Seeing this, Brock exclaimed, “Ah, poor Savery!  He is indeed dead.”  But, to use his own words, it was only “the hot air from the projectile that had ‘floored’ him.”  Previous to this he had driven Isaac almost demented by stating his intention of joining the storming party and sharing his brother’s danger.  “Is it not enough that one brother should be killed or drowned?” said Isaac.  But Savery persisted until, at Isaac’s request, the commander of the Ganges kept the paymaster quiet by stratagem.  “Master Savery,” said he, “you simply must remain with us.  I appoint you captain of the gun.  It will amuse you.”

The loss of the Danes at Copenhagen was placed at 6,000, including prisoners.  The British killed and wounded numbered 943, more than fell at the Battle of the Nile.  Part of this loss is charged to a criminal misconception of military etiquette.  To a line officer who asked where his men should be stationed, the captain of the battleship replied, that as soldiers were no good with big guns, and as the forts were out of musket range, he should “send them between decks.”  This, said the infantryman, “would be eternal disgrace.”  In deference to this brutal conception of military ethics, the men were drawn up on the gangway and, standing at attention, were allowed to be mowed down by Danish grapeshot.  The 49th, on its return to England from Copenhagen, thoroughly initiated in the cruel cult of war, was ordered to Colchester.

Isaac Brock, with the bay-leaves of distinction on his brow, and his heart touched but not dismayed at the ferocity of war, had passed the second milestone of his life.

CHAPTER V.

BROCK IN CANADA.

Isaac Brock received with regret his orders to proceed with the 49th to Canada.  Europe was still in the clutches of war.  Great opportunities awaited the soldier of fortune in the struggle waging in the Peninsula.  The prospect for military advancement in Canada was not encouraging.  America was at peace.  Canada was but slowly developing.  While her exports of lumber and fish attracted the attention of the British merchant, her great resources were unknown except to the fur trader and the few United States speculators whose cupidity kept pace with their knowledge.  Though the known sympathy of the United States for France was regarded as a possible excuse for hostility towards England, as yet this sympathy had found no official utterance, hence the outlook from a soldier’s standpoint was far from desirable.  Brock’s life in the West Indies had created a distaste for garrison duty.  While a past master in the details of barrack life, his career under arms had created an aversion for the grind of drill and parade.