from their native places. This branch of the
service was looked upon by the fight-worn and weather beaten Franc-
tireurs as their lawful prey. To be camped near one of them was looked
upon as a direct gift from above. At such times the Franc-tireurs
never thought of cutting wood for themselves. They frequently changed
their dirty and dilapidated blankets for the fresh warm ones of the
inexperienced Mobiles.

Hares abound in this part of France and many of them helped to make soup
for the freebooters. So frequently had the shots been heard and
needless alarms raised that a strict order was given out that there was
to be no firing unless at an enemy. One day Paul was doing duty as a
sentinel on an outpost, when a large, fat hare appeared on a little
hillock not thirty yards from where he stood. Before he remembered
about the order he had raised his rifle and sent a bullet crashing
through its body. Paul had no time to pick up the hare before he saw
the relief advancing on "double quick." So he stood on his post,
saluted the officer in command, and in reply to his inquiry said that
his gun had gone off accidentally. The officer scrutinized him
closely, then looking around soon discovered the cause of the accident.
He sent a soldier for the hare, examined it, and placed Paul under
arrest, at the same time remarking "that for an accidental discharge of
a gun it had a most remarkable effect and that only an American could
cause such an accident." After a few hours detention in the guard house,
Paul was allowed his liberty. Being the only foreigner, he was a
favorite in the company and many of his escapades were overlooked, if a
Frenchman had been guilty of the same he would have been severely
punished. The captain of Paul's company at this time was an officer
whose voice was very weak, and he could never finish a command in the
same pitch he had started. He invariably broke down, and the command
which was commenced in a stentorian voice was ended in a hoarse
whisper. This peculiarity often caused the Franc-tireurs to smile. One
morning the company was ready to march; the captain, mounted on a
powerful horse, was at their head. Wheeling about and drawing his sword
he gave the orders: "Attencion compagnie! En evant." He then
suddenly broke down and paused to recover his breath and Paul in a low
undertone and in exact imitation of the captain, added the word that
ought to fo