Cavalry Life, or Sketches and Stories in Barracks and Out (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884. Excerpt: ... ICO A REGIMENTAL AUTOCRAT. Who was he? Why, the colonel, of course What other man in that big family of over-grown children occupies the proud position of absolute monarchy? And what was his name? Thomas Crevecoeur. He was an autocrat--an absolute monarch--a martinet of the fiercest and most unreasonable description, and he commanded the gallant regiment known as the 18th (Royal) Dragoons. Behind his back they called him " Tommy," " Our old man," "Old Fireworks," and the like; but to his face it was "yes, colonel," and "no, colonel," in the most mealymouthed manner. Occasionally the youngsters played very judicious pranks on him; that is to say, when " Tommy" got three sheets in the wind he was wont to unbend considerably, and they therefore had to fall in with his humour, and if he joked--joke back again; but it was unsatisfactory work--so akin to playing with lighted matches over an open barrel of gunpowder. Well, one evening, after an extra big night, Colonel Crevecoeur retired to his rooms, rather nearer to being halfseas-over than was usual even with him, who could stow away a bottle of cognac a-day with ease and comfort. He was desperately sleepy--almost too sleepy to walk at all; the night was awfuily cold; on the ground outside the snow lay thick, and the fires in his rooms burnt brilliantly--as fires do in frosty weather--casting mellow pleasant glow over everything. Up to the sitting-room fire-place Colonel Crevecoeur went, meandering thereto in graceful curves, which so delighted him that he unburdened his soul by a burst of language, popularly called " choice Italian." And, somehow, his legs seemed more inclined to continue the graceful meandering movements tlmn the rest of him did, so he caught at the chimney-piece to steady himself; a liber...