214 THE HORSE AND HIS EIDER. 



an order to, or to reconnoitre a locality which on horse- 

 back it would be certain death to him to attempt to ap- 

 proach, a pair of hobbles would enable him, or, in case of 

 invasion, any possessor of a horse and a Minie rifle, to 

 ride as far as with safety he could advance, and then by 

 dismounting and securing his animal to creep, or if neces- 

 sary, crawl onwards along the bottom of a ditch, or behind 

 any bank or hedge, sufficient to conceal him from the fire 

 of an army of unerring marksmen to whom, after making 

 all necessary observations, he could invisibly administer 

 deadly blows. 



As, however, in future warfare it will of course con- 

 stantly occur, that appropriate cover in appropriate situ- 

 ations and directions will not be available, our army, how- 

 ever perfect it may be made in the light infantry rifle 

 movements above described, should be discouraged from 

 relying on them, lest such an idea should lead, not only 

 to a timid course of procedure on the part of the General 

 commanding, but to a conception in the minds of British 

 soldiers, whose favourite weapon has hitherto been their 

 bayonets, that the odds will be much against them unless 

 they be hidden from the fire of their enemy. 



