The mission took two days; early on the
third day they returned with the string of wild young horses, whom it
had taken not a little exertion and address to conduct successfully
through the country into Algiers.
He was usually kept in incessant activity, because those in command over
him had quickly discovered the immeasurable value of a bas-officier who
was certain to enforce and obtain implicit obedience, and certain to
execute any command given him with perfect address and surety, yet,
who, at the same time, was adored by his men, and had acquired a most
singularly advantageous influence over them. But of this he was always
glad; throughout his twelve years' service under the Emperor's flag, he
had only found those moments in which he was unemployed intolerable; he
would willingly have been in the saddle from dawn till midnight.
Chateauroy was himself present when the colts were taken into the
stable-yard; and himself inquired, without the medium of any third
person, the whole details of the sale and of the transit. It was
impossible, with all his inclination, to find any fault either with the
execution of the errand or with the brief, respectful answers by which
his corporal replied to his rapid and imperious cross-questionings.
There were a great number of men within hearing, many of them the most
daring and rebellious pratiques of the regiment; and Cecil would have
let the coarsest upbraidings scourge him rather than put the temptation
to mutiny in their way which one insubordinate or even not strictly
deferential word from him would have given.
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