" NOUS VERRONS." 265 



a couple of cuirasses, taking care to place one so 

 as to to cover my " head's antipodes," as that was 

 the part where the poor sergeant was principally- 

 bitten. As the Yankees say, " My dander riz at 

 thur chaff," and rather inconsiderately, I told them 

 that the nag had found its master when I bought 

 him, and that even if he had thrown half the French 

 army, and eaten them afterwards, I should never- 

 theless mount him on the morrow. "Notts ver- 

 rons," was their reply, with sundry rather uncalled- 

 for remarks relative to the foolhardiness of English- 

 men in general, and myself in particular, they ex- 

 pressed their belief that the equestrian performance 

 would end in my being killed " comme une mouche." 

 I received an invitation to breakfast at the 

 cavalry mess the following morning, and, being 

 determined to accomplish what I had undertaken, 

 I accepted it. "In for a penny in for a pound," 

 thought I, as I went to examine the animal, not 

 exactly sure how I intended to begin, for Mr. 

 Earey's system had not then come out. He was 

 in a vile temper, and notwithstanding I offered 

 him food, and endeavoured to coax him to allow 



