p 



HADJ ANO 



Presently we reached a river 

 which had to be crossed before we 

 came on our ground ; it was about 

 fifty yards wide, and just fordable by 

 a man on horseback. The captain, 

 who was leading, pushed in first, 

 while Pierre, the subaltern, jibbed 

 on the bank. As the captain's horse 

 began to clamber up the far bank he 

 placed his back at such an incon- 

 siderate angle as to permit of the 

 rider slipping off over his tail into 

 the muddy stream. Having thus de- 

 posited his burden, the horse turned 

 round and recrossed to rejoin us. 

 As he ranged up near me I caught 

 him and led him over again. Mean- 

 time Pierre was still niggling vainly 

 at his mount, which steadily de- 

 clined to brave the water, and even- 



^^ 



