n, with a sharp blow on the soldier's wrist,
compelled him to relax his grasp. So suddenly were the two movements
effected, that in less time than I take to relate it, all was over, and
the general, who, for a heavy man, was a good rider, was fast seated
in his saddle. I had now no time, however, to bestow on him, for the
dragoon, stung by the insult of a blow, and from a peasant, as he deemed
it, rushed at me with his sabre.

'_Halte-la!_, cried Massena in a voice of thunder; 'it was that country
fellow saved me from a broken bone, which your infernal awkwardness
might have given me. Throw him a couple of florins for me,' cried he to
his aide-de-camp, who just rode in; 'and do you, sir, join your ranks; I
must look for another orderly.'

'I am right glad to have been in the way, general,' said I, springing
forward, and touching my hat.

'What, Tiernay--this you?' cried he. 'How is this? have I forgotten you
all this time? What's to be done now? You ought to have gone on with the
rest, monsieur. You should have volunteered with some corps, eh?'

'I hoped to have been attached to yourself, general. I thought I could
perhaps have made myself useful.'

'Yes, yes, very true; so you might, I've no doubt; but my staff is
full--I 've no vacancy. What's to be done now? Lestocque, have we any
spare cattle?'

'Yes, general; we've your own eight horses, and two of Gambronne's.'

'Ah, poor fellow, he 'll not want them more. I suppose Tiernay may as
well take one of them, at least.'

'There's an undress uniform, too, of Cambronne's would fit Monsieur
de Tiernay,' said the officer, who, I saw, had no fancy for my motley
costume alongside of him.

'Oh, Tiernay doesn't care for that; he's too old a soldier to bestow a
thought upon the colour of his jacket,' said Massena.

'Pardon me, general, but it is exactly one of my weaknesses; and I feel
that until I get rid of these trappings I shall never feel myself a
soldier.'

'I thought you had been made of other stuff,' muttered the general, 'and
particularly since there's like to be little love-making in the present
campaign.' And with that he rode forward, leaving me to follow when I
could.

'These are Cambronne's keys,' said Lestocque, 'and you'll find enough
for your present wants in the saddlebags. Take the grey, he's the better
horse, and come up with us as fast as you can.'

I saw that I had forfeited something of General Massena's good opinion
by my dandyism; but I