were sent in pursuit of the enemy. As for myself, before the
week elapsed, I was sufficiently recovered to move about; for happily
the stunning effects which immediately followed the injury were its
worst consequences, and my wound in the shoulder proved but trifling.

"And so you are determined to join the cavalry again?" said Francois,
as he sat by my side under a tree, where a cheerful fire of blazing
wood had drawn several to enjoy its comfort. "That is what I cannot
comprehend by any stretch of ingenuity,--how a man who has once seen
something of voltigeur life can go back to the dull routine of dragoon
service."

"Perhaps I have had enough of skirmishing, Francois," said I, smiling.

"Is it of that knock on the pate you speak?" said he, contemptuously.
"Bah! the heavy shako you wear would give a worse headache. Come, come;
think better on 't. I can tell you"--here he lowered his voice to a
whisper--"I can tell you, Burke, the major noticed the manner you
held your ground in the old farmhouse. I heard him refuse to send a
reinforcement when the Prussians made their second attack. 'No, no,'
said he; 'that hussar fellow yonder does his work so well, he wants no
help from us.' When he said that, my friend, be assured your promotion
is safe enough. You were made for a voltigeur."

"Come, Francois, it's no use; all your flattery won't make me desert.
I 'll try and join my brigade to-morrow; that is, if I can find them."

"You never told me in what way you first became separated from your
corps. How was it?"

"There's something of a secret there, Francois; you mustn't ask me."

"Ah, I understand," said he, with a knowing look, and a gesture of his
hand, as if making a pass with his sword. "Did you kill him?"

"No, not exactly," said I, laughing.

"Merely gave him that pretty lunge _en tierce_ you favored me with,"
said he, putting his hand on his side.

"Nor even that."

"_Diable!_ then how was it?"

"I have told you it was a secret."

"Secret! Confound it, man, there are no secrets in a campaign, except
when the military chest is empty or the commissary falls short of grub;
these are the only things one ever thinks of hushing up. Come, out with
it!"

"Well, if it must be, I may as well have the benefit of your advice. So
draw closer, for I don't wish the rest to hear it."

In as few words as I was able, I explained to Francois the circumstances
of the night march, and the manner of my meeting with the