iumph over an enraged
and powerful horse, well knows that few sensations are more pleasurably
exciting. High as is the excitement of being borne along in full speed,
leaving village and spire, glen and river, bridge and mill behind
you--now careering up the mountain-side, with the fresh breeze upon
your brow; now diving into the dark forest, startling the hare from
her cover, and sending the wild deer scampering before you--it is still
increased by the sense of a victory; by feeling that the mastery is with
you, and that each bound of the noble beast beneath you has its impulse
in your own heart.

Although the cavalry squadrons I was despatched to overtake had quitted
Nancy four hours before, I came up with them in less than an hour,
and inquiring for the officer in command, rode up to the head of the
division. He was a thin, gaunt-looking, stern-featured man, who listened
to my message without changing a muscle.

'Who sent you with this order?' said he.

'A general officer, sir, whose name I don't know, but who told me to
take his own horse and follow you.'

'Did he tell you to kill the animal, sir?' said he, pointing to the
heaving flanks and shaking tail of the exhausted beast.

'He bolted with me at first, major, and having cleared the ditch of the
boulevard, rode away with me.'

'Why, it's Colonel Mahon's Arab, Aleppo,' said another officer; 'what
could have persuaded him to mount an orderly on a beast worth ten
thousand francs?'

I thought I'd have fainted, as I heard these words; the whole
consequences of my act revealed themselves before me, and I saw arrest,
trial, sentence, imprisonment, and Heaven knew what afterwards, like a
panorama rolling out to my view.

'Tell the colonel, sir,' said the major, 'that I have taken the north
road, intending to cross over at Beaumont; that the artillery trains
have cut up the Metz road so deeply, cavalry cannot travel; tell him I
thank him much for his politeness in forwarding this despatch to me; and
tell him, that I regret the rules of active service should prevent my
sending back an escort to place yourself under arrest for the manner in
which you have ridden--you hear, sir?'

I touched my cap in salute.

'Are you certain, sir, that you have my answer correctly?'

'I am, sir.'

'Repeat it, then.'

I repeated the reply, word for word, as he spoke it.

'No, sir,' said he as I concluded; 'I said for unsoldier-like and cruel
treatment to your horse.'

On