156 



THE FRENCH POODLE. 



the town one day, not long after his arrival, Moustache happened 

 to come upon the parade of a company of grenadiers. They 

 were brilliantly equipped their spirits were high and their 

 drums loud. Moustache, instantly smitten with their fine 

 appearance and military enthusiasm, cut the grocer for ever, 

 slunk out of that town, and joined the grenadiers ere they had 

 marched an hour. He was dirty he was 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 nodded assent ; and Moustache attached himself to the 

 band, and was soon found to possess considerable tact and 

 talent. He already fetched and carried 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. Soldier like, he lived from paw to mouth. He endured 

 the fatigues of Mont St. Bernard with as good a 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 



