f the village,
shaking the frail old houses with their rude trot. Even in a retreating
army, I have scarcely witnessed such a spectacle of uproar, confusion,
and chaos; but still, in less than an hour the troops had all defiled
from the town, the advanced guard was already some miles on its way,
and, except a small escort of lancers before the little inn where the
general still remained, there was not a soldier to be seen. It may seem
absurd to say it, but I must confess that my eagerness to know what was
'going on' in front was divided by a feeling of painful uneasiness at my
ridiculous dress, and the shame I experienced at the glances bestowed on
me by the soldiers of the escort. It was no time, however, to speak of
myself or attend to my own fortunes, and I loitered about the court of
the inn wondering if, in the midst of such stirring events, the general
would chance to remember me. If I had but a frock and a shako, thought
I, I could make my way. It is this confounded velvet jacket and this
absurd and tapering hat will be my ruin. If I were to charge a battery,
I'd only look like a merry-andrew after all; men will not respect what
is only laughable. Perhaps after all, thought I, it matters little;
doubtless Massena has forgotten me, and I shall be left behind like a
broken limber. At one time I blamed myself for not pushing on with some
detachment--at another I half resolved to put a bold face on it, and
present myself before the general; and between regrets for the past and
doubts for the future, I at last worked myself up to a state of anxiety
little short of fever.

While I walked to and fro in this distracted mood, I perceived, by the
bustle within-doors, that the general was about to depart; at the
same time several dismounted dragoons appeared leading saddle-horses,
tightening girths, and adjusting curb-chains--all tokens of a start.
While I looked on these preparations, I heard the clatter of a horse's
hoofs close behind, and the spluttering noise of a struggle. I turned
and saw it was the general himself, who had just mounted his charger,
but before catching his right stirrup the horse had plunged, and was
dragging the orderly across the court by the bridle. Seeing, in an
instant, that the soldier's effort to hold on was only depriving General
Massena of all command of the horse, who must probably have fallen on
his flank, I jumped forward, caught the stirrup, and slipped it over
the general's foot, and the