and native of Argenteuil, the best
fellow in the world: but one who would persist in marching in a pair of
Parisian boots with high, tapering heels, bearing the pain they gave with
little wincing. For him the ground we trod was classical, for we were in
the neighbourhood of Austerlitz. Immediately in his rear swaggered the
Austrian, with swarthy features and black straggling locks, swaddled and
dirty; he was called "bandit" by general consent. The other three men of
our party tramped abreast under the guidance of a Lubecker, a smart
upright fellow, who, on the strength of having served two years in an
infantry regiment, naturally took the position of drill-sergeant, and was
dignified with the name of Hannibal on that account.

We halted to rest in the village of Bischowitz, where the few straggling
houses, and the dreary, almost tenantless hostelry, told their own
sorrows. But we got good soup, with an unlimited supply of bread, which
formed a dinner of the best description; for, besides that the adopted
doctrine in Germany is that soup is the best meat for the legs, we found
that it also agreed well with our pockets. While in the full enjoyment
of our rest, we observed that an earnest conversation had sprung up
between the landlord and a ruddy-featured fellow in a green half-livery.

"Whither are you going, friends?" inquired the landlord at length,
advancing towards us.

"We were going to Brunn by the high-road," we answered.

"This man will carry you beyond Chradim for a _zwanziger_ a head," said
the landlord, pointing to the half-liveried fellow, who began
gesticulating violently, and marking us off with his fingers as if we
were so many sheep. This was a tempting offer for foot travellers, each
burthened with a heavy knapsack. Chradim was eleven German miles on our
road--a good fifty miles in English measurement--and we were all to be
transported this distance for a total of about three shillings and
sixpence. We therefore inspected the _furwerk_, which did not promise
much; but as it was drawn by a neat sturdy little horse, who rattled his
harness with a sort of brisk independence that spoke well for a rapid
journey, we readily decided upon the acceptance of the offer made by the
Bohemian driver. That worthy shook his head when we addressed him, and
grunted out "_Kein Deutsch_,"--"No German." Indeed we found that,
excepting people in official situations, innkeepers, and the like, the
German language