HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 



195 



but in woeful condition, for he had not been groomed 

 for a couple of months. I saw at once that he would 

 be just the animal to suit me, if I could only gain 

 the mastery over him, so I went to his owner to 

 inquire the price. 



' Although it was past mid-day, I found the gallant 

 Colonel still at breakfast, of which he cordially 

 invited me to partake ; and after having done justice 

 to his hospitality, I broached the subject. At first 

 he merely shrugged his shoulders in true Frenchman's 

 style, but finding I was really anxious to have the 

 animal, he told me that he would be glad to take 

 anything for him ; but that he did not like to dispose 

 of him to any of his friends, as he was worthless, and 

 people might accuse him of selling to another a horse 

 that he dared not mount himself. I soon quieted 

 his scruples on that score, and for the sum of six 

 hundred francs (barely the price of his freight from 

 Algeria), the chestnut was mine. 



6 It soon got wind in the French camp that an 

 English ofiicer had bought le Diable Rouge, as he 

 was commonly called, being a well-known desperate 

 character, who had proved to be more than a match 

 for all their maitres d' 'equitation, and I had to stand 

 a good deal of badinage about my bargain ; some of 

 them asking me, in a rather supercilious manner, 

 when I was going to mount my new purchase, advis- 

 ing me when I did so to wear a couple of cuirasses, 

 taking care to place one so as to cover my " head's 



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