we want. I will tell you now
what I myself did.

"My regiment formed part of General Brennier's brigade, and we were
ordered to attack the English left, which we did with incredible fury. We
had to ascend what we thought was an accessible ridge, but we had not got
far when we came to a deep ravine with rocks and water courses all about,
and could only get on with extreme difficulty and much delay. From my
own experience, I should say the battle ought to have been called the
battle of 'Les Sauteurs.' {17} I did never jump so much in my life.
Every step was a leap in that terrible ravine. We were just like a
brigade of frogs. At last we cleared it, when we suddenly came upon a
sight that made my blood boil. Six of our guns were there, captured, and
guarded by a very large number. 'Au secours!' I roared. I am not very
big, but my voice is loud. We all shouted and rushed upon the enemy. I
was the first to cut a man down at the guns, and we retook them all."

"Bravo, bravo!" echoed around.

And then the little man added, in a much more subdued tone, "However, the
English--I heard since there were two regiments of them--reformed higher
up the hill, and poured a deadly volley into us, and after hard fighting
got the guns back from us: and I was taken prisoner. So was also my
brave general, and wounded too."

The young officer who had rallied Tournier on the march, rose and,
shrugging his shoulders, remarked, "I have read that when the Athenians
of old had won some great victory, it was proposed that every general who
had had a share in it, should at a public meeting deposit one after the
other in an urn the written name of the general who he thought had proved
himself the most conspicuous for bravery; and that when the urn was
examined, it was found that, lo! each general had put down _his own
name_. We will not do so"--with a sly glance at the little man--"and,
therefore, let me tell a story of one, here present, who will never utter
a word in his own praise, but who richly deserves it. There is a brother
sitting amongst us who commanded a troop in as fine a body of cavalry as
ever drew sword, and I had the honour of being his subaltern. Thirteen
hundred of us took part in the fatal fight of Vimiero, under the command
of General Margaron. That fight, so fatal, ought to have been won by us,
and would have been won but for the woods and hollows that covered so
large a portion of the battle-field, so unfavour