Cautious Jimmy, 1C7 



against the agreement, but seeing the colonel of the Imperial 

 forces with such a fine dog under his arms, they were awe- 

 struck, and saluted him respectfully. 



Now, had Jimmy not been so cautious, he would have been 

 killed long ago, instead of sitting now demurely at my side, 

 having reached in its thirteenth year a reputation few dogs can 

 boast of. His beautiful head has been caressed by three em- 

 perors, and his four-legged soul has been sanctified by the 

 touch of most holy cardinals and archbishops, not to speak of 

 presidents, senators, simple highnesses or generals. It he 

 should die before me, I will have his life-size statue made in 

 black marble, and order in my last will that it be placed over 

 my grave — or on the top of my ash-urn, if I should be burned, 

 as I hope I shall. 



We had scarcely left Tulancingo half <in hour, when Caraba- 

 jal's rascals attacked our rearguard. Van der Smissen would 

 not engage with them, and thought it best to gallop out of their 

 way. We tore away at a nice rate, but it was a somewhat dif- 

 ficult job, for Jimmy was sitting before me on my saddle, and 

 he became somewhat unsettled when the Mexicans fired. But 

 under such aggravating circumstances I collared him tightly, 

 not minding his whine, for in general he is a very good horse- 

 man, following the movements of the horse like an 

 Englishman, 



The Carabajal robbers had not much courage, however, and 

 after having received a few shots from our Belgians they re- 

 tired, and left us unmolested. 



The Belgian Legion had received already in Tulancingo an 

 order by which it was disbanded, and General Bazaine had 

 offered free passage to those of the men who preferred return- 

 ing to Europe, which offer was gladly accepted by most of 

 *hem. We were now on our march to Puebla. 



We remained the night in Texcoco in very bad quarters, 

 and arrived on January 2, in the afternoon, at Buena Vista. 

 Salm, who was a great sportsman, wa^ tempted by the many 

 wild duck in the neighbourhood, and went after them ; but he 

 shot nothing, and returned rather disappointed. 



We received orders to halt at Buena Vista, and at the same 

 time the news that the Emperor would pass that place on his 

 way from Orizava to Mexico. He arrived next morning, 

 escorted by some Austrian cavalry, and accompanied by many 



