th of a brigade, the number of guns in
a battery, the depth of a fosse, the height of a parapet, and such like.
These were usually followed by a flourish of the pen, or sometimes by the
word "Bom." which singular monosyllable always occurred at the foot of the
pages.

"Well, have you caught the key to the cipher?" said he, after a pause.

"Not quite, sir," said I, pondering; "I can perceive that the chief facts
stand prominently forward, in a fair, round hand; I can also guess that
the flourishes may be spaces left for detail; but this word 'Bom.' puzzles
me completely."

"Quite correct, as to the first part," said he, approvingly; "and as to
the mysterious monosyllable, it is nothing more than an abbreviation for
'Bombaste,' which is always to be done to the taste of each particular
commanding officer."

"I perceive, sir," said I, quickly; "like the wadding of a gun, which may
increase the loudness, but never affect the strength of the shot."

"Precisely, Tiernay; you have hit it exactly. Now I hope that, with a
little practice, you may be able to acquit yourself respectably in this
walk; and now to begin our skeleton. Turn over to a fresh page, and write
as I dictate to you."

So saying, he filled his pipe and lighted it, and disposing his limbs in
an attitude of perfect ease, he began:

"8th Thermidor, midnight--twelve battalions, and two batteries of
field--boats and rafts--Eslar island--stockades--eight guns--Swabian
infantry--sharp firing, and a flourish--strong current--flourish--detachment
of the 28th carried down--'Bom.' Let me see it now--all right--nothing could
be better--proceed. The 10th, 45th, and 48th landing together--more
firing--flourish--first gun captured--Bom.--bayonet charges--Bom. Bom.--three
guns taken--Bom. Bom. Bom.--Swabs in retreat--flourish. The bridge eighty
toises in length--flanking fire--heavy loss--flourish."

"You go a little too fast, mon capitaine," said I, for a sudden bright
thought just flashed across me.

"Very well," said he, shaking the ashes of his pipe out upon the rock,
"I'll take my doze, and you may awaken me when you've filled in those
details--it will be a very fair exercise for you;" and with this he threw
his handkerchief over his face, and without any other preparation was soon
fast asleep.

I own that, if I had not been a spectator of the action, it would have
been very difficult, if not impossible, for me to draw up any thing like a
narrative of it, fro