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On one occasion Wills went out taking with him M'Donough and three camels, and when about ninety miles from the head camp he walked to a rising ground at some distance from where they intended to stop to make some observations, leaving M'Donough in charge of the camels and to prepare tea. On his return he found that the man had fallen asleep, and that the camels had gone.
At the appointed hour, or perhaps a little later, I dismounted at Castle Connor; and, on entering the hall, I observed a gentleman issuing from O'Connor's private room. I recognised him, as he approached, as a Mr. M'Donough, and, being but slightly acquainted with him, was about to pass him with a bow, when he stopped me.
'I believe, Purcell, your are right, said he. 'I believe I HAVE viewed the matter in too decided a light; my note, I think, scarcely allows him an honourable alternative, and that is certainly going a step too far further than I intended. Mr. M'Donough, I'll thank you to hand me the note. He broke the seal, and, casting his eye hastily over it, he continued: 'It is, indeed, a monument of folly.
The sound of his horse's hoofs, as he rode rapidly away, struck heavily at my heart; but I found some satisfaction in the reflection that M'Donough appeared as averse from extreme measures as I was myself, for I well knew, with respect to the final result of the affair, that as much depended upon the tone adopted by the SECOND, as upon the nature of the written communication.
'Castle Connor, Thursday morning. This note was consigned to the care of Mr. M'Donough, who forthwith departed to execute his mission.
On which account I have been informed, since my return from captivity, that all our seamen, that were sent from Boston to Sackett's harbour, on Lake Ontario, were transported in coaches with four horses, chartered for the express purpose; and that it was common, for many weeks together, to see a dozen of the large stage coaches, setting out from Boston in a morning, full of sailors going up to the lakes, to man the fleets of commodores Perry, Chauncey and M'Donough.
'In the name of my principal, said the Captain, 'I must and do insist upon these gentlemen moving back a little. We ask but little; fair play, and no favour. The crowd moved as requested. M'Donough repeated his former question, and was answered as before. There was a breathless silence. Fitzgerald fixed his eye upon O'Connor. The appointed signal, 'Ready, fire! was given.
'I must be troublesome to you once again, Mr. M'Donough. One toss more, and everything is complete. We must settle who is to have the FIRST SLAP. A piece of money was again thrown into the air; again the captain lost the toss and M'Donough proceeded to load the pistols.
M'Donough replied in the affirmative; and, after a slight pause, the captain, as had been arranged, uttered the words: 'Ready fire. O'Connor fired, but so wide of the mark that some one in the crowd exclaimed: 'Fired in the air. 'Who says he fired in the air? thundered Fitzgerald. 'By he lies, whoever he is. There was a silence.
M'Donough owed his victory in Plattsburg Bay, to having improved so favourable a chance; and the French were beaten at the Nile, because they did not; though Nelson probably would have overcome them, under any circumstances; the energy imparted by one of his character, more than counterbalancing any little advantage in tactics.
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