llow--as there was no time to spare, after
making them a short harangue, in which I promised
abundance of _nehub_ (plunder) whenever we came across
the enemy, to which they responded by a wild yell of
approbation--I gave the signal to move off, which was
instantly obeyed, amidst joyous shouts, the brandishing
of spears, and promiscuous discharge of fire-arms.
Having thus got them under weigh, the next difficulty I
experienced was to keep them together. I tried to form a
rearguard to bring up the stragglers, but the guard
would not remain behind, nor the stragglers keep up with
the main body; and I soon, finding that something more
persuasive than mere words was requisite to maintain
them in order, took the first opportunity of getting a
stout cudgel, with which I soundly belaboured all those
whom I found guilty of thus disobeying my commands. The
Eastern does not understand the _suaviter in
modo_;--behave to him like a human being, he fancies you
fear him, and he sets you at defiance--kick him and cuff
him, treat him like a dog, and he crouches at your feet,
the humble slave of your slightest wishes."

Discipline of so perfect a nature must have inspired the gallant
colonel with the strongest hopes of success in case of an onslaught on
the forces of Ibrahim Pasha, and in all probability his efforts, with
those of Captain Lane, Hunter, and Giorgio, might have produced
something like a skrimmage when they came near the tents of the
Egyptians; but it would seem that the cudgels wielded by the Musree
commanders were either not so strong or not so well applied, for on
the first appearance of the hostile squadron, the heroes of Nezib
evaporated as if by magic, but not before a similar feat of
legerdemain had been performed by the rabble rout of Turks and Arabs;
and on looking round, to inspire his followers with a speech after the
manner of Thucydides, the colonel discovered the last of his escort
disappearing at full speed on the other side of the plain, and the
Europeans were left alone in their glory. As they had nobody to
attack, (the enemy continuing still in a state of evaporation,) every
thing ended well; and, if the trumpeter had not been among the
fugitives, there might have been a triumphal blow performed although
no blow had been struck. We do not believe in the courage of the
Arabs. No amount of kicking and cuffing could cow a natio