34 



HORSE, FOOT, AND DRAGOONS. 



brightly, men of the infantry were cleaning their arms and 

 accoutrements, cavalry and artillerymen in linen jackets and 

 overalls were taking the mud off their harness and horses. 

 Forage for the latter was being dealt out 

 from the waggons, the men staoffjerino: off 

 towards the temporary stables with enor- 

 mous bundles of hay or sacks of oats on 

 their heads. Towns -people and peasants 

 from the surrounding country were mingled 

 with the troops, and a brisk trade in butter, 

 eggs, poultry, and like delicacies 

 was rapidly developed. 



As I left the market-place and 

 crossed the main street on my 

 way to the railway -station, 

 a company of troops under 

 arms passed by. It was 

 the detail for the grand 

 guard and for the pickets, 

 for now we were near the 

 enemy, and the same 

 It. precautions were taken 

 as in actual warfare. 

 Poor fellows ! they did 

 not look particularly 

 cheerful at the pros- 

 pect of spending the 

 night in the open 

 country, while their comrades had such a comfortable billet 

 as Yvetot. 



At the railway -station the commissariat (forming a special 

 corps in the French service, having its own officers and per- 



THE COMPANY 

 KITCHEN. 



