poet ever
sang.

"The cuirassiers and the dragoons of the Guard are yonder," said the
general, as he directed his glass to a large square of the town where
a vast mass of dismounted cavalry were standing. "You see how punctual
they are; we are but two hours behind our time, and they are awaiting
our arrival."

"And do we move forward to-night, General?" asked I, in some surprise.

"Yes, and every night. The marches are to be made fourteen hours each
day. There go the Lancers of Berg; you see their scarlet dolmans, don't
you? And yonder, in the three large boats beyond the point, there are
the sappers of the Guard. What are the shouts I hear? Whence comes that
cheering? Oh, I see! it's a vivandiere; her horse has backed into the
river. See, see! she is going to swim him over! Look how the current
takes him down! Bravely done, faith! She heads him to the stream; it
won't do, though; she must be carried down."

Just at this critical moment a boat shoots out from under the cliff; a
few strokes of the oars and they are alongside. There's a splash and a
shout, and the skiff moves on.

"And now I see they have given her a rope, and are towing her and her
horse across. See how the old spirit comes back with the first blast of
the trumpet," said the old general, as his eyes flashed with enthusiasm.
"That damsel there,--I 'll warrant ye, she 'd have thought twice about
stepping over a rivulet in the streets of Paris yesterday; and look at
her now! Well done! gallantly done! See how she spurs him up the
bank! _Ma foi!_ Mademoiselle, you 'll have no lack of lovers for that
achievement."

A few minutes more and we entered the town, whose streets were thronged
with soldiers hurrying on to their different corps, and eager townsfolk
asking a hundred questions, to which, of course, few waited to reply.

"This way, General," said an officer in undress, who recognized General
d'Auvergne. "The cavalry of the third division is stationed on the
square."

Driving through a narrow street, through which the _caleche_ had barely
room to pass, we now found ourselves in the Place,--a handsome space
surrounded with a double row of trees, under which the dragoons were
lying, holding the bridles of their horses.

The general had scarcely put foot to ground when the trumpets sounded
the call. The superior officers came running forward to greet him.
Taking the arm of a short man in the uniform of the cuirassiers, the
general entered a cafe