'Did they not fire on you?' inquired one of the solicitous damsels, pending the slow-coming explanation.

Not wounded!-Oh! how glad I am!' exclaimed the other of the twain, in great delight.

The truth was this: Tom's long spurs had caught in a running vine, which laid him sprawling on his face; and the report heard was caused by the accidental discharge of his own musket. All the romance of the affair subsided when the humorous old Don explained farther that the noise of hoofs was occasioned by the breaking loose of the horses belonging to the hacienda, and the hallooing and warlike tumult by the servants in the futile endeavor to drive them into an inclosure. No enemy had appeared in sight. This is told you in strict confidence, my partially-disposed reader; and it won't do to let it get around, or our long looked-for promotion will not be hastened therefor.

That very night, the discomfited warrior whom I rejoice to number among my best friends, carried into execution his veterinary project in regard to a certain quadruped who figures largely in these pages. So transformed was it, with the aid of pincers and shears, that the man lived not who could have identified him as the steed which had so gaily trotted into the personal estate of Tom. The strong and full mane which flowed like a stormy river during a freshet, was trimmed and braided into fair dimensions à la militaire; and the bright star on his forehead was obliterated; hair by hair, until scarcely a speck shone to tell what once had been. No longer did he present the appearance of the unshorn rural mustang, but, although his eyes still glowed like living embers, and his free pace was like the light, he looked every inch a staid trooper.

For a few days, the mounted knight feigned that he had an extraordinary number of visits which could not be forgone without incurring the imputation of great incivility. Many of the dragoons in our camp were yet dismounted, and they pined in secret for the society and comfort of their fleet-companions, who still remained on ship-board; and when the vain possessor of the cropped yet fine-looking animal cantered him thitherward, the chagrined men of horse waxed wroth with fair jealousy. Rosinante, as its master delighted to call it, in imitation of an immortalized one of the race, was sure to attract much attention by his vivacity and beauty, as he outstripped the heavier dragoon horses.

II.

THE city of Vera Cruz having capitulated, the troops marched out, laid down their arms, and making a congé, betook themselves to parts remote. Our colors, amid clouds of smoke which arose from the saluting batteries, were flung to the breeze from the various fortifications in the city, as well as from the castle of San Juan d'Ulloa. Some of our troops marched into the city of sixteen cupolas, but many more encamped on a fine level plain. It was most assuredly a great gratification to make the remove.

The thorny chapparal, with its ten millions of bugs, and the glowing sands, were forsaken with joy. Long lines of white tents were symmetrically arranged on the luxuriant carpet of grass, the sides bounded

by evergreen foliage, which screened from view the naked hills. In front the glistening cupolas and gloomy towers of the city stood out in bold relief against the blue serene, while the foam-crested waves of the Gulf were clearly seen, as, in ceaseless roars, they dashed against the coral reefs. That was all certainly very fine and grand; well calculated to suggest the poetic thoughts which arose in the mind of the romantic cavaliers. While the unobscured rays of Apollo were gradually burning dark the countenance, a delicious movement of air, like the veil of the enchantress, would spring up to fan the sweltering troops. No one more appreciated the few comforts of the coast than my friend Tom. As the surf wildly broke in, and the waves combed the beach, our hero would sit on his saddle and drink in inspiration and sometimes diluted whiskey. So seldom was he seen without his barb, that one might almost fancy him a modern Centaur. When night extended her dusky wings, he spread himself in his roomy wall-tent, but not until he had carefully picketed Rosinante a few yards in the rear; and, with agreeable anticipations of the morrow's pleasures, his consciousness was wafted away into the realm of balmy slumber.

One morning came: the horse was invisible. Nothing for a time could be learned of his fate; but then came a soldier who had been on guard during the night. The regimental quarter-master, Lieut. G. Bolivar H——————, had laid his eyes covetously on the steed. He had scarcely brushed sleep from his lids, when, without so much as inquiring for the owner, he pretended that the property was captured from the enemy, and so properly within his custody. Tom raged furiously. He declared that the said individual must have known that he was trespassing upon private property; and, much as he regretted the necessity, he felt imperatively called upon, for the honor of the service, to bring H— before a court-martial to answer for such malconduct. Upon reflection, he contented himself with nursing his wrath until he could meet the wrongdoer face to face. Indeed, it had occurred to Tom that any investigation might lead to developments not at all desirable under the circumstances. To avoid that end, legal proceedings were dispensed with, although the sufferer still cherished a fierce determination to call to account, in a private way, the bold innovator of his rights.

As without a horse there is no ride, he of the spurs sauntered into town to while away an hour that, but for the fact above detailed, might have been spent in a far more agreeable manner. There he accepted an invitation to join in a conviviality with a party of officers of all arms, including some of our own and the French navies. At the corner of a long table sat H amusing his auditors with one of his droll recitals. His limbs were thrust under the mahogany in a fancy contortion, he seemingly enjoying himself to the utmost capacity - with him a shade beyond the usual run. In answer to the salutation of the merry H our bereaved friend angrily demanded why he had presumed to carry off his horse. Was it intentional? If so, it should not rest there; not it, indeed. The grave imputation produced no great sensation; for horse-stealing, called by a much softer name, had been much indulged in among certain fun-loving fellows, who, under the cover of darkness, borrowed many a good, bad, or indifferent quadruped;

and as the memory of the gentlemen was destitute of a particle of tenacity, they entirely forgot to return them. As the animals really belonged to the government as captured property, in turn the receivingofficer, the quarter-master, begged leave to say something in the matter, unless by a beforehand operation some one else relieved said dignitary of the trouble.

'Horse? horse?' said H.

thoughtfully. Did I hook your horse? Very sorry, I assure you, if the mistake did happen. When did you lose him? for really, I've not the least recollection of ever seeing yours.'

Tom, in rather savage mood, conjured up the night of the loss; and, as he warmed up and his tongue became oily, he gave a glowing description of the beauty, gait, and actual value of his horse.

What kind of a

Less in anger than in the fulness of a burdened breast, Tom glided onward :

‹ Unmatched in speed by any in the camp; could outrun any thing that was brought against him; extremely vigorous, yet as docile

'A dark bay, with scarcely a mark of white on it. A pretty, small head; limbs clean, straight, compact; and such eyes! Why, Sir, they sparkled like-like-well, they were very fine. There was a grace and elegance about his throat that no common beast can pretend to; and all over his body the veins swelled; and what a tail! a splendid, flat, bushy'.

'Ay, but what kind of a mane? full and long?'

'It was full, but not very long, for it had been braided and somewhat shortened; and now I recollect that each braid was decked out with a piece of ribbon that the daughters of'

H- mused no longer, but burst out into a tremendous laugh.

'My dear fellow, was that yours? I thought it belonged to the commissary. Ha! ha! Why, the very next day I made it a present to one of my friends in the city here, and he has since left for the country. Upon my word, I thought it belonged to the commissary.'

Commissaries are a class not exceedingly popular in the army, and, with a few shining exceptions, are only tolerated as a necessary evil. Their generally attributed habit of expanding eight ounces into a pound avoirdupois, is the main cause of this. Whether guilty or not of the peculations laid to their charge by growling campaigners on short allowance, it is considered a capital jest to plunder them as they are said to do others. It is a comparatively rare occurrence for any one to overreach them for they are a sharp set of men and when it is done, no body sympathizes with the loser.

The roar of laughter which followed from the assembled warriors was too earnest and hearty not to affect the risible faculties of Tom ; and in vain did he attempt to refrain that he might appear indignant ; but no one laughed with more gusto than the pleasant commissary himself when his attention was called from the viands and vino-tinto to the intellectual discussion. Tom scon thought the jest excellent, as he

became assured that the fine little creature which had almost caused a deadly feud, had not been converted into sausages or salt-junk. The reflection wonderfully calmed his mind. The purloiner promised him as satisfaction as good a horse as had been taken by mistake. Many a tale concerning horse-flesh was served up until it came to the turn of H to contribute his quota. He had sent his servant to purchase some little niceties for his table. The man landed at the door of a tienda, leaving the horse under the care of a Mexican boy, who, in consideration of a promised quartilla — that most diminutive of silver coin was to guard him. The purchase completed, the man went to the door, when lo! no horse appeared. He gleaned from the stupid lad that a soldier in the same uniform had tossed on the ground the sum of one dime, nearly quadruple the promised reward; and as the boy stooped to pick it up, leisurely bestrode the horse, and rode off, the lad not dreaming that he had been deceived.

'Now talk of your horses,' continued H enthusiastically; 'why, Sir, that was a horse! What a mane and tail! For my part, I've not seen such a fine creature in the whole country. The worst of the whole matter is, that at the same time I lost some memoranda of accounts, which have cost me more trouble than can readily be imagined; and in searching every where for some means to supply the deficiency, I soon forgot to hunt my cheval.'

Tom began to pay more attention when comparison was instituted, and a smile played over his face as he drew out the remainder of the description.

'Could n't compare, my dear Sir, in looks. Your one had rather a graceful, easy gait, I admit; something similar to that of mine, but there all comparison drops.'

'Had he a white star on his forehead?' carelessly asked Tom.

White star? certainly he had, and it was as free from blemish or stain as a '

'Long tail, too, I suppose?'

'Tail! one of the most magnificent switches you could ever wish to look at. Why, it was a pleasure to '

'Red-skirted saddle-cloth, fringed with blue?'

'Yes. How did you? did I tell?'

Tom did not immediately reply to the unfinished interrogatory. How could he? a convulsion of laughter deprived him of the power of speech. His risible faculties seemed to have gone mad. Before he had sufficiently recovered from the paroxysm to account for his conduct, a new scene was enacted. The ponderous door majestically swung open, and our ancient ally, the Don, was ushered into our midst. The good old man was in trouble. The personal attachment which he had conceived for a certain officer of our army, who had been killed or taken prisoner, had allowed him no rest until he could learn his fate. After the victorious issue of the bombardment, he had made no attempt to conceal his solicitude, even from his fellow-citizens, our enemies. One impudent upstart of an official, who had left the humble yet honest occupation of selling vegetables to take up the trade of politics, actually snapped his fingers in the face of the old Don when he inquired of him

in his

power

concerning his lost friend. Deeply wounded in his most sensitive part by the act of the supercilious ruffian, the worthy Hidalgo made use of the only weapon the pen. With that keen instrument he wrote a fierce letter to the President of the Republic, in the simplicity of his heart, believing that he would redress his grievance; while his daughters-kind girls!— quenched their sorrow for the gallant officer in copious supplies of ink, which dropped from the points of their pens into verse.

Well, the Don came into our merry-making in the city, as above stated, in a different state of mind from ourselves. He had scarcely made a bow when he opened both arms, rushed over to H for a second stared into his face, then encircled him with his extended arms, and clasped him to his bosom. The Don had discovered the object of his search, he of whom he had been so long in quest. When the excitement had subsided, Tom finished his story. He gave a brief history of the whole matter from beginning to end; how the horse had been first obtained, trimmed, and curtailed of his fair appendages. As an incident, he spoke of the scraps of paper which the astute S had taken for dispatches. A rocket-like explosion of laughter ensued, as, with the suddenness of that missile's going off, the awful truth burst upon the mind of H. who exclaimed:

Not one of that whole company laughed more immoderately than the Don, who was brimful of joy, and with choral song and jollity the time flew by. The best of the joke, after all that is said and done, is, that two or three of my old comrades will remember, when they read this, the part they acted.

W. H. BROWNE.