CAMPAIGNING WITH MAX. 103 



or fallen timber to which he might be put, would 

 fly as though shot from a gun in passing along 

 the line; and when, whether early or late, he 

 was taken to his stable, would eat like a hungry 

 colt and sleep like a tired plough-horse. In all 

 weathers and under all circumstances he was 

 steady, honest, intelligent, and ready for every 

 duty. I had ridden before, at home and in the 

 army, horses ideally good ; I have ridden since, 

 over the hunting country of Warwickshire and 

 Northamptonshire, horses that were counted of 

 the best, but never, before or since, have I 

 mounted such a magnificent piece of perfectly 

 trained and perfectly capable horse-flesh. 



On one occasion, at Union City, word was 

 brought in that a flag of truce from Faulkner 

 had arrived at our picket line, and I rode out 

 for a parley over a trifling matter of an ex- 

 change of prisoners. The officer in charge of 

 the flag, with the company escorting him, had 

 originally come from our neighborhood and had 

 belonged to Merryweather's "band." As Max 

 trotted up to their bivouac, he was greeted with 



