ance, sir. Suffice
it, I don't approve of this familiarity to the commander of a squad. But
it is no matter: I let it pass this time. And, hark in your ear, as you
underrate Backbiter, you are a fool, Peppercorn, and know no more of the
points of a good horse than you do of the ten commandments. Why, blast
you, just to punish you, I'll hold you to the word of a gentleman, and
take him back. Now there's an end of it, and let's have no more
talking."

"Right, noble Captain!" ejaculated Peppercorn, with a free and
swaggering laugh, "right! I will uphold the discipline of the valiant
Hugh Habershaw of the Tiger against all the babblers the world over. By
the God of war, I marvel that Cruger hasn't forced upon you one of his
commissions, before this; the army would be proud of such a master of
tactics."

"The time will come, Peppercorn; the time will come, and then I'll teach
them the elements of military construction. Mark that word, Peppercorn,
there's meaning in it."

"Huzza for Captain Tiger of Habershaw--Habershaw of Tiger, I mean!"
cried Peppercorn. "Here's Tiger Habershaw, my boys! Drink to that." And
saying these words, the dragoon snatched up a leathern canteen from the
ground, and, pouring out some spirits into the cup, drank them off.

The rest of the crew sprang from the grass, and followed the example set
them by their comrade, roaring out the pledge until the woods rang with
their vociferation.

"Peace! you rapscallions!" screamed the captain. "Have you so little
notion where you are, that you bellow like bulls? Is this your
discipline, when you should be as silent as cats in a kitchen,
hellhound! And you, you coarse-throated devil, Beauty," he said as he
kicked his dog, that had contributed to the chorus with a loud
sympathetic howl, "you must be breaking the laws of service guard with
your infernal roar, like the other fools of the pack. Be still, puppy!"

The clamor upon this rebuke ceased, and the bull-dog crouched again at
his master's feet.

"Isn't it time that we were at the ford? Oughtn't our friends to be near
at hand?" inquired Peppercorn.

"Black Jack will give us notice," replied Habershaw. "Depend upon him. I
have thought of everything like a man that knows his business. I have
sent that rascal up the road, with orders to feel the enemy; and I'll
undertake he'll clink it back when he once lays eyes on them, as fast as
four legs will carry him. But it is always well to be beforehand,
Pepp