ADM^XTUEES OF MOUSTACHE. 113 



Austerlitz found him with his chasseurs. In the heat 

 of the action he perceived the ensign, who Lore the 

 colours of his regiment, surrounded by a detachment of 

 the enemy. He flew to his rescue, barked with all his 

 might, did all he could, but in vain. The ensign fell 

 covered with wounds, but not before, feeling himself 

 about to fall, he had wrapped his body in the folds of 

 his standard Five or six Austrians still remained by 

 the ensign to obtain possession of the colours he had so 

 nobly defended ; Moustache having thrown himself 

 on the colours was on the point of being pierced 

 with bayonets, when a timely discharge of grape- 

 shot swept the Austrians into oblivion. The moment 

 that ]Moustache perceived he was delivered from his 

 assailants, he took the staff of the French banner 

 in his teeth, and strenuously endeavoured to disengage 

 it, but ineffectually. He succeeded, however, in tearing 

 away the silk, and with this glorious trophy returned to 

 the camp limping and bleeding. One day a chasseur, 

 mistaking the dog, hit him a chance blow with the flat 

 side of his sabre. Moustache, piqued to the heart, de- 

 serted from his regiment, attached himself to some 

 dragoons, and followed them into Spain. On the 11th 

 March 1811, he was killed by a cannon ball at the 

 taking of Badajoz. He was buried on the scene of his 

 last glories, collar, medal, and all. A plain stone, wath 

 the simple inscription, ' Ci-git le brave Moustache,' 

 was placed over his grave ; but the Spaniards afterwards 

 broke the stone, and the bones of the poor animal were 

 burnt by order of the Inquisition." 



WTien I was staying, in the autumn of 1857, at the 

 house of a friend in Sussex, he told me that his game- 

 keeper had been much annoyed by a notorious poacher 



