e regiment were
already drawn up, and at any other time I should no doubt have
considered the scene as sufficiently imposing. I had other things,
however, to think of besides military grandeur.

"I say, Anthony," said I, somewhat nervously, "do you know anything
about these twistified manoeuvres?"

"Indeed I do not!" replied Whaup, "I've been puzzling my brains for the
last three days over the Yeomanry Regulations, but I can make nothing
out of their 'Reverse flanks' and 'Reforming by sections of threes?'"

"And I'm as ignorant as a baby! What on earth are we to do? That big
fellow of a sergeant won't let us stand quietly, I suppose."

"I stick to Pounset," said Whaup. "Whatever he does I do, and I advise
you to do the same by Randolph."

"But what if they should ride away? Isn't there some disgusting nonsense
about forming from threes?"

"I suppose the horses know something about it, else what's the
use of them? That brute of yours must have gone through the evolutions
a thousand times, and ought to know the word of command by
heart--Hallo!--I say, Pounset, just take care of that mare of yours,
will ye! She's kicking like the very devil, and my beast is beginning
to plunge!"

"I wouldn't be Pounset's rear-rank for twenty pounds," said a stalwart
trooper to the left. "She has the ugliest trick of using her heels of
any mare in Christendom."

"Much obliged to you, sir, for the information," said Whaup,
controlling, with some difficulty, the incessant curveting of his steed.
"I say, Pounset, if she tries that trick again I'll hamstring her
without the slightest ceremony."

"Pooh--nonsense!" replied Pounset. "Woa, Miss Frolic--woa, lass!--she's
the gentlest creature in the creation--a child might ride her with a
feather. Mere playfulness, my dear fellow, I assure you!"

"Hang her playfulness!" cried Anthony; "I've no idea of having my brains
made a batter pudding for the amusement of a jade like that."

"Are you sure, Whaup, that you did not tickle her tail?" asked Pounset,
with provoking coolness. "She's a rare 'un to scatter a crowd."

"Hang me if I'd come within three yards of her if I possibly could help
it," quoth Anthony. "If any gentleman in the neighbourhood has a fancy
to exchange places, I'm his man."

"Threes right!" cried the commanding-officer, and we executed a movement
of which I am wholly unconscious; for, to the credit of Masaniello be it
said, he took the direction in his own mouth, and pe