The Project Gutenberg EBook of Under Two Flags, by Ouida [Louise de la Ramee]

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Title: Under Two Flags

Author: Ouida [Louise de la Ramee]

Release Date: April 6, 2006 [EBook #3465]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER TWO FLAGS ***

Produced by Dagny; John Bickers

UNDER TWO FLAGS

by Ouida [Louise de la Ramee]

TO COLONEL POULETT CAMERON whose family has given so many brilliant
soldiers to the armies of France and England and made the battle-fields
of Europe ring with "The War-Cry of Lochiel" this story of a soldier's
life is dedicated in sincere friendship.

AVIS AU LECTEUR.

This Story was originally written for a military periodical. It has been
fortunate enough to receive much commendation from military men, and
for them it is now specially issued in its present form. For the general
public it may be as well to add that, where translations are appended to
the French phrases, those translations usually follow the idiomatic and
particular meaning attached to these expressions in the argot of the
Army of Algeria, and not the correct or literal one given to such words
or sentences in ordinary grammatical parlance.

OUIDA.

UNDER TWO FLAGS.

CHAPTER I.

"BEAUTY OF THE BRIGADES."

"I don't say but what he's difficult to please with his Tops," said Mr.
Rake, factotum to the Hon. Bertie Cecil, of the 1st Life Guards, with
that article of hunting toggery suspended in his right hand as
he paused, before going upstairs, to deliver his opinions with
characteristic weight and vivacity to the stud-groom, "he is uncommon
particular about 'em; and if his leathers aint as white as snow he'll
never touch 'em, tho' as soon as the pack come nigh him at Royallieu,
the leathers might just as well never have been cleaned, them hounds
jump about him so; old Champion's at his saddle before you can say
Davy Jones. Tops are trials, I aint denying that, specially when you've
jacks, and moccasins, and moor boots, and Russia-leather crickets, and
turf backs, and Hythe boots, and waterproofs, and all manner of varnish
things for dress, that none of the boys will do right unless yo