We were on the inland march. The up-hill tramp was as invigorating as pure Champagne, and the caravan did not halt until five good leagues had been measured. Then reposing, some with half and some with full-closed eyes, beneath the over-hanging leafy bowers, fresh and beautiful, we sought and found full protection from the noon-tide warmth.

But few cared then to study the great volume of Nature, which spread out its most delectable of prospects before us. The atmosphere was laden with aromatic odors, inducing somnolence; and the mountain-breeze stole softly down, a-tempering the genial clime, and fanned the sturdy troopers to sleep. From every spot whither they had climbed, or wind or bird had dropped the seeds on earth or exfoliating rock, sprang the loveliest of flowers. Deep meditations overcame me while gazing down on the sparkling silver ribbon of the Rio Antigua far beneath us, meandering toward the ocean. It soon became quite indistinct; for I followed the example of the greater number of my trusty comrades. The awakening time was hastened by a delightful choral hymn. So sweet was it that it inspired me with an irresistible inclination to treat the whole as a pleasing hallucination. What can touch and thrill the chord leading from the ear to the heart like the voice? Not all the artificial means and appliances in the world. Was it the vibrations of human breath that filled the air with harmony? All circumstances but one conspired to cheat the senses and assimilate the scene to an Arcadian revel.

A score of fellows, who by reason of having no music in their souls, or from sheer fatigue, still lay there, snoring like so many hippopotami, and that recalled my wandering faculties. David was regaling himself in an early concert among the cool ever-greens. Sitting alone, and screened from vulgar observance, was a young and handsome female,

a daughter of Germany. The music had called up memories of her girlhood; for it was a melody of her native land to which she with emotion listened. Poor creature! she was weeping. Katrina had followed her chosen one over the seas and into the army of his adopted country, with a true womanly devotion; and not only encountered all the perils and sufferings of war with cheerfulness, but actually shared her affection between the splendor of a military life and her spouse. There was none braver in our corps than Dutch Kate, as she was called, and that those who have seen the gaily-adorned Amazon rush into action on her tall horse well know.

Another song. It almost made one forget the toilsome effort required to reach that place, when the dust flew in clouds from the sandy roads. so heated by a raging vertical sun that the fluids steamed and evaporated in the canteens, and all our nasal organs flamed like boiled lobsters; when even the hum of the insect of the desert, and the genuine little republicans, the bees, now so plenty, was unheard. We had reached a more tolerable region no fevers and a profusion of fruits. Even if the sun at times were a little too hot, there was a cunninglydevised remedy at hand, to serve as a grateful and pleasant shield for the nose; and that was simply to affix thereto a morning-glory blossom that grew by the way-side.

The combination of modulated sounds abruptly ceased, drowned in the roll of drums for the march to continue. The duties of the day were arduous, but were much alleviated by the contemplated sport. It was rumored that at a village more than ten miles farther on, there was a considerable body of the enemy canteened; and that imparted new energy to the toil-worn soldiery. The colonel invited the fine singers of the grenadier company to give one of their merry marchingsongs. It was electrical. Verily it reminds me of the incident of the brave Swedish troops marching into the action of Lützen, singing as they tramped the battle-hymn, composed by Gustavus Adolphus himself:

'Despair not, O thou handful small!'

The familiar airs of home vied with those culled from the classic stores of Faderland,' and were alike exhilarating; and the particolored throng joined enthusiastically in the burthen. Who led the songsters? David. He was the life of all. A singular felicity of invention in burlesque made his wording extremely amusing. When we jogged along, the paisonos have heard the dying shrieks of their tortured vernacular, as it writhed in the jaws of the invading minstrel. What cared he for their shrugs and grimaces? The approval of his comrades was law.

II.

OUR adversaries wisely postponed the cracking of their calabashes to a day uncertain; decamping in such haste that a bountiful repast was left ready for our use. The soreness of disappointment at not meeting the foe and the edge of fierce appetite were both taken off by the sumptuous fare; and then, like Mr. Micawber, we patiently waited for something to turn up.'

The time came. Our soldiers chafed impatiently to be let loose upon the yellow-skins, then within sight. David had been detached as bugler of the advance, the order for which came so suddenly as to surprise him with his guitar in hand. While awaiting the signal to sound the magical blast that was to set the column in motion, he seated himself beneath an umbrageous plantain-clump, unstrung his instrument. and commenced an adagio movement. That excited no slight degree of pleasantry among the lookers-on, as the battle had already begun. and stray bits of iron and lead whizzed by their ears. Even the lips of the usually stern commander were constrained to quiver at such a comical conceit of the favorite bugler. It was so funny, thought every body. David played on to suit his own ideas, his imperturbable coolness assisting not a little to compose the ruffled tempers of the gentlemen who desired the overture to give way to the tragedy. He had the call, and until that sounded, the scene could not be shifted.

'Sprili-link-link, oulo-sprink-a link!' twanged the musical hero, as an accompaniment to his voice. Rare fellow! It makes one laugh to think of it now. It was one of the national airs on which the Mexicans about that time were perpetually harping. We had listened to it with a feeling akin to admiration as it faintly floated through the quiet, rarefied atmosphere, across long intervening fields. Sprili-linka-link,' spoke the guitar, as a load of grape-shot whistled by; but that did not in the least cause him to break the time of the performance. Others might grow timorous at such harsh sounds; so did not he. The business was getting to be stupid, as the firing slackened. Something was in the wind, however. A squadron of dragoons was seen coming up the road at a brisk trot; and within a yard or two of the head rode the witch-like Dutch Kate. Whenever that woman appeared, in her close-fitting hussar jacket and but semi-feminine costume, it was a pretty sure sign of a fight. Well, Kate and the dragoons were coming up the road, and mischief was brewing. Just then a heavy gun boomed out in the distance.

'Column, advance!' roared the commander. With a toss, back to its place flew the guitar, and David's bugle rang out the wished-for note. Away went the battalion at a sharp pace, quickened to a halftrot as the excitement warmed the blood; and soon the young surgeons were getting into excellent practice.

Halt! Prepare to resist cavalry!' The bugler's signal-note made the order intelligible, and it was carried out with alacrity.

Sweeping over the fields of grain came a long line of lancers, with gay pennons fluttering and weapons gleaming. Their dilating eyes apparently projected an inch from the sockets, so wild did they look. Regardless of the streams of fire turned upon them from different fieldpieces and detached bodies of troops, they dashed along in gallant style. Our side had no occasion to form square, flanked as the position was by ditches and cactus-hedges. As each man more firmly grasped his musket, planted his feet in the most bracing posture, the mass was like a solid wall in strength. On they came, shrieking, when within pistolrange, like devils incarnate — or, as a facetious fellow used to say, devils in a clarionetto inspire terror. Those were not the deep-toned

cheers which like volleying thunder were wont to burst from our lads on a charge, but shrill, long-drawn imprecations, contemptible from very profanity. They sat their horses as if part and parcel of the same, and moreover, were well-disciplined. But their battle-cry-pah! Kate could equal any of them.

The front was not to be broken by men with such voices. Not an infantry-man moved, although the froth from the mouths of the foaming steeds, as they reined up suddenly, nearly touched the American bayonets. Such a rude repulse was mortifying. Falling back to renew the attempt at forcing a passage, they were met by a well-directed round which relieved many saddles of riders. Then came off a grand scrubrace. Nothing but the tops of their plumes and the tips of their horses' heels could be distinguished through the pyramid of smoke, as they fled. During the day, the field of action was not unlike a chess-board. There were as many unlooked-for variegations, or uniforms intermingled and scenes dissolved, as if one were looking into a huge kaleidoscope. Artillerymen danced about their hoarse-mouthed batteries, cavalry flew around, and the infantry bounded along the uneven ground, the sheen of their bright arms enlivening the scene; while the riflemen skipped here and there out of sight, until it became a matter of mere surmise as to their whereabouts. By a coup de main the day was won, and Victory no longer hovered overhead, but descended plump upon our standards.

What a stirring moment it was when the lads jumped into the ditch, clambered through the mud up the far side, and took the main work! Was it not?

ence.

When the wounded had been in a manner provided for, the rolls were called. That was partly for form's sake, and partly to ascertain what portion of the superabundant population had been rubbed out of existHundreds marched gaily into that field, upon whose grave-hillocks the setting sun played. 'Where's David? No body answered. He was unaccounted for, save by a cabalistic pencil-mark in the orderlybook. It was settled that he had blown his trumpet for the last time. Misfortune's breath had doubtless blown him away. Some one called to mind a glimpse he had caught of the absent musician about an hour before the termination of the conflict. He was then engaged in a swordcombat with a Mexican officer, whom he had unhorsed; but a rising powder-cloud shut them both from view, and it was conceded by the most sanguine that our friend's agility had been overmatched.

The commotion had subsided into comparative quiet, when two of David's admirers set out in quest of him. In some instances, they had to make long leaps to clear the heaps of mangled braves who lay

THICK as autumnal leaves that strew the brooks
In Vallambrosa.'

The King of Terrors does not assume his gloomiest guise on the battlefield. No hungry scapegraces are there to shed crocodile tears when a kind old uncle has been called away from his broad acres; no mercenary blubbering attendant, flap-mouthed mourner, black and grim,' as heartless as noisy; nor prying strangers, to make the occasion more

doleful because forsooth earth's bosom is to receive a son. The soldier departs unincumbered with real estate, except that small spot occupied by himself; and if perchance he leave nephews, he commends them to Uncle Sam, that dear plundered old gentleman.

To return to the searchers. They passed a lugubrious churchman - his corded waist and sable garb bespoke his calling - who was piously endeavoring to pour consolation into the ear of one of the laity, who was hopelessly wounded. The shriving monk raised his head, and he met the cold stare of glassy eyes. Then he knew that even while he was speaking, the spirit had fled beyond the pale of the church. Scores of upturned faces were scanned without success. David had made himself a conspicuous mark, by playing the troubadour; and all regrets were unavailing.

Such a pleasant fellow!' quoth one of the searchers. 'I don't think his loss can ever be replaced.'

'No,' sadly returned his companion, we 'll never again

What's

that?' and he severely clutched the arm of the other; don't you hear? eh? - do n't you hear?'

'R-r-rulo, sprink-a-link!' and the words of ' Vivan los bravos!' broke upon their astonished hearing. The object of their solicitude and grief! Following the sounds, they found David seated in the midst of a crowd of prisoners-of-war, while with his characteristic sang froid, he led the Mexican song of victory! Who ever heard the like? The prisoners were not disheartened by the turn in Fortune's scale, and several joined in the chorus. Their turn might come on the morrow; who could tell? The good-natured Kate had acted as should a brave Amazon, and had seen that a plentiful supply of provisions was served out to the unwilling guests. With their mouths full of bread and mouldy cheese, they

sang:

"Vivan los bravos!'

Well, what of it? 'The soldier, on earth, has no lasting abode,' he thought, so let him be jolly!'

W. H. BROWNE.