28 HORSE, FOOT, AND DRAGOONS. 



wholly a creature of romance — could have been more popular, 

 or have administered more fully to the comfort of her com- 

 rades, than did this obese old creature. Many of her calling 

 have done noble deeds, and more than one has been decorated 

 with the " Legion of Honor." I know of one, poor thing ! who 

 proudly wore her cross, and eked out a living by selling cata- 

 logues at a panorama in the Rue St. Honore at Paris. 



Having succeeded, thanks to the attention of the cantiniere, 

 in procuring my luncheon, I proceeded to discuss it under the 

 hospitable shelter of a thick hedge, where a friend, the sur- 

 geon of one of the infantry regiments, joined me. The rain 

 presently ceased falling, and an occasional ray of sunshine broke 

 through the clouds. The men, most of them having finished 

 their meal, were scattered about the fields, some of them drying 

 their wet clothing at the fires, or lounging wherever they could 

 find a comparatively dry spot to rest in ; the oiificers were smok- 

 ing and chatting together, and the musicians were assembling 

 preparatory to giving us some music. An occasional aide-de- 

 camp or orderly rode by, and now and then we heard a bugle 

 signal, as some non-commissioned of^cer was summoned or a 

 detail of service was to be attended to. 



All at once there was a great commotion among the soldiers 

 over in the fields on the other side of the road — men were run- 

 ning together from all points, shouting and laughing. We saw 

 them kickingr at somethinor on the 2:round, and from our side a 

 shout of " Un lievre ! un lievre !" went up, as a poor hunted hare 

 broke out from among them and rushed across the road, fol- 

 lowed by the whole shouting, falling, kicking crowd. The poor 

 creature ran close by us, and neither the doctor nor I had the 

 heart to attempt to stop it ; but its pursuers were too many for 

 it, and finally it fell a victim to the sword of a burly sergeant. 

 A garde chasse, game -keeper, who had vainly endeavored to 



