tting our way to victory by roads the hardiest
hunter had seldom trod--I call that war.'

'And I call it the skirmish of an outpost!' said the gruff veteran, as
he smoked away in thorough contempt for the enthusiasm of the other. 'I
have served under Kleber, Hoche, and Moreau, and I believe they are the
first generals of France.'

'There is a name greater than them all,' cried the hussar, with
eagerness.

'Let us hear it, then--you mean Pichegru, perhaps, or Massena?'

'No, I mean Bonaparte!' said the hussar triumphantly.

'A good officer, and one of us,' said the artilleryman, touching his
belt to intimate the arm of the service the general belonged to. 'He
commanded the siege-train at Toulon.'

'He belongs to all,' said the other. 'He is a dragoon, a voltigeur, an
artillerist, a pontonnier--what you will--he knows everything, as I know
my horse's saddle, and cloak-bag.'

Both parties now grew warm; and as each was not only an eager partisan,
but well acquainted with the leading events of the two campaigns they
undertook to defend, the dispute attracted a large circle of listeners,
who, either seated on the green sward, or lying at full length, formed
a picturesque group under the shadow of the spreading oak-trees.
Meanwhile, the cooking went speedily forward, and the camp-kettles
smoked with a steam whose savoury odour was not a little tantalising to
one who, like myself, felt that he did not belong to the company.

'What's thy mess, boy?' said an old grenadier to me, as I sat at
a little distance off, and affecting--but I fear very ill--a total
indifference to what went forward.

'He is asking to what corps thou belong'st?' said another, seeing that
the question puzzled me.

'I Unfortunately I have none,' said I. 'I merely followed the march for
curiosity.'

'And thy father and mother, child--what will they say to thee on thy
return home?'

'I have neither father, mother, nor home,' said I promptly.

'Just like myself,' said an old red-whiskered sapeur; 'or if I ever had
parents they never had the grace to own me. Come over here, child, and
take share of my dinner.'

'No, _parbleu!_ I 'll have him for my comrade,' cried the young hussar.
'I was made a corporal yesterday, and have a larger ration. Sit here, my
boy, and tell us how art called.'

'Maurice Tiernay.'

'Maurice will do; few of us care for more than one name, except in the
dead muster they like to have it in full. Help thyself, my lad,