46 British War Dogs 



tolerably ugly, but there was an intelligence, a sparkle, a 

 brightness about his eye, that could not be overlooked. 

 ' We have not a single dog in the regiment,' said the petit 

 tambour, ' and, at any rate, this one looks clever enough 

 to forage for himself.' The drum-major assented, and 

 Moustache attached himself to the band, and was soon 

 found to possess considerable tact and talent. He had 

 already learned to carry admirably, and ere three weeks 

 were over, he could stand with as erect a back as any 

 private in the regiment, act sentinel, and keep time in the 

 march. Soldierlike, he lived from paw to mouth. He 

 endured the fatigues of Mont St. Bernard with as good 

 grace as any veteran in the army. They were soon near 

 the enemy, and Moustache, having become familiar with 

 the sound of musketry as well as of drums, seemed to be 

 inspired with new ardour as he approached the scene of 

 action. The first occasion on which he distinguished him- 

 self was this. His regiment, being encamped on the 

 height above Alexandria, from the Vale of Balbo attempted 

 a surprise during the night. The weather was stormy, 

 and the French had no notion that the Austrians were 

 advancing so close. The camp was in danger, but Mous- 

 tache was on the alert. Walking his rounds as usual, with 

 his nose in the air, he soon detected the Austrians. He 

 gave the alarm, and the Austrians rapidly retreated. Next 

 morning, it was resolved, that Moustache should receive 

 the rations of a grenadier. He was now cropped a la 

 militaire, a collar with the name of the regiment was hung 

 round his neck, and the barber was ordered to comb and 

 shave him once a week. (He was a cross-bred poodle.) 



"In a skirmish which occurred, Moustache received a 

 bayonet wound in his left shoulder. He was not perfectly 

 recovered from this accident when the great Battle of 



