eemed to move
forward by one impulse, though the officer who led them was full a mile
distant from where we were.

"Can you use a firelock, comrade?" said the major, as he placed in my
hand a short musket, such as the voltigeurs carried. "Sling it at your
back; you may find it useful up yonder. And now I must leave you; keep
to this party. But what is this? You mustn't wear that shako; you'd soon
be picked off with that tower of black fur on your head. Corporal,
have you no spare foraging-cap in your kit? Ah! that's something
more becoming a tirailleur; and, by Jove! I think it improves you
wonderfully."

The circumstance of becomingness was not exactly uppermost in my mind
at the moment; but certainly I felt no small gratification at being
provided with the equipment both of cap and firearms which placed me on
an equality with those about me.

Scarcely had the major left us, when the corporal crept closely to
my side, and with that mingled respect and familiarity a French
sous-officier assumes so naturally, said,--

"You wished to see something of a skirmish, Captain, I suppose? Well,
you're like enough to be gratified; we're closing up rapidly now."

"What may be the strength of your battalion, Corporal?"

"Twelve hundred men, sir; and they're every one at this instant in the
valley, though I'll wager you don't see a bough move nor a leaf stirring
to show where they lie hid. You see that low copse yonder; well, there's
a company of ours beneath its shelter. But there goes the word to move
on."

A motion with his sword, the only command he gave, communicated the
order; and the men, creeping stealthily on, obeyed the mandate, till at
another signal they were halted.

From the little copse of brushwood where we now lay, to the farmhouse,
the ground was completely open,--not a shrub nor a bush grew; a slight
ascent of the road led up to the gate, which could not be more than
three hundred paces in front of us. We were stationed at some distance
to the right of the road, but the field presented no obstacle or
impediment to our attack; and thither now were our looks turned,--the
short road which would lead to victory or the grave.

From my ambush I could see the two fieldpieces which commanded the road,
and beside which the artillerymen stood in patient attention. With what
a strange thrill I watched one of the party, as from time to time
he stooped down to blow the fuse beside the gun, and then seemed
endeavori