o Courier: "Celui qui
commande en serre-file. C'est chez nous le capitaine en second."

(8) Or, "the rest of the squadron." Lit. "his own tribesmen."

An even number of file-leaders will admit of a greater number of equal
subdivisions than an odd.

The above formation pleases me for two good reasons: in the first
place, all the front-rank men are forced to act as officers; (9) and
the same man, mark you, when in command is somehow apt to feel that
deeds of valour are incumbent on him which, as a private, he ignores;
and in the next place, at a crisis when something calls for action on
the instant, the word of command passed not to privates but to
officers takes speedier effect.

(9) i.e. all find themselves in a position of command, and there is
nothing like command to inspire that feeling of noblesse oblige
which is often lacking in the private soldier. See Thuc. v. 66;
"Pol. Lac." xi. 5.

Supposing, then, a regiment of cavalry drawn up in this formation:
just as the squadron-leaders have their several positions for the march
(or the attack (10)) assigned them by the commander, so the file-leaders
will depend upon the captain for the order passed along the line in what
formation they are severally to march; and all being prearranged by word
of mouth, the whole will work more smoothly than if left to chance--like
people crowding out of a theatre to their mutual annoyance. And when it
comes to actual encounter greater promptitude will be displayed:
supposing the attack is made in front, by the file-leaders who know that
this is their appointed post; or in case of danger suddenly appearing in
rear, then by the rear-rank men, whose main idea is that to desert one's
post is base. A want of orderly arrangement, on the contrary, leads to
confusion worse confounded at every narrow road, at every passage of a
river; and when it comes to fighting, no one of his own free will
assigns himself his proper post in face of an enemy.

(10) Lit. "where to ride," i.e. in what formation whether on the line
of march or in action.

The above are fundamental matters not to be performed without the
active help of every trooper who would wish to be a zealous and
unhesitating fellow-worker with his officer. (11)

(11) Cf. "Hiero," vii. 2; "Cyrop." II. iv. 10.

III

I come at length to certain duties which devolve upon the general of
cavalry himself in person: and first and foremost, it concerns him to
o