ate, that the
highest efficiency could be maintained without the flogging which was
still used in the Prussian and the English service, and it was shown,
for the first time, that great bodies of men could be induced to act
from a sense of duty and a love of country, without hope of reward or
fear of punishment. When a French general could suffer his division to
straggle as they would over the face of the country, with the certainty
that they would concentrate upon the day of battle, he proved that he
had soldiers who were worthy of his trust.
One thing had struck me as curious about these hussars--that they
pronounced French with the utmost difficulty. I remarked it to the
lieutenant as he rode by my side, and I asked him from what foreign
country his men were recruited, since I could perceive that they were
not Frenchmen.
'My faith, you must not let them hear you say so,' said he, 'for they
would answer you as like as not by a thrust from their sabres. We are
the premier regiment of the French cavalry, the First Hussars of
Bercheny, and, though it is true that our men are all recruited in
Alsace, and few of them can speak anything but German, they are as good
Frenchmen as Kleber or Kellermann, who came from the same parts.
Our men are all picked, and our officers,' he added, pulling at his
light moustache, 'are the finest in the service.'
The swaggering vanity of the fellow amused me, for he cocked his busby,
swung the blue dolman which hung from his shoulder, sat his horse, and
clattered his scabbard in a manner which told of his boyish delight and
pride in himself and his regiment. As I looked at his lithe figure and
his fearless bearing, I could quite imagine that he did himself no more
than justice, while his frank smile and his merry blue eyes assured me
that he would prove a good comrade. He had himself been taking
observations of me, for he suddenly placed his hand upon my knee as we
rode side by side.
'I trust that the Emperor is not displeased with you,' said he, with a
very grave face.
'I cannot think that he can be so,' I answered, 'for I have come from
England to put my services at his disposal.'
'When the report was presented last night, and he heard of your presence
in that den of thieves, he was very anxious that you should be brought
to him. Perhaps it is that he wishes you to be guide to us in England.
No doubt you know your way all over the island.'
The hussar's idea of an island
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