On their way they passed the encampment; they gazed at the snow-white tents of the cadets with the utmost interest, and indeed would rather have lived in these delightful canvas houses, than in a king's palace.
"Oh! Harry!" exclaimed Anna, "I wonder if we mightn't just peep into one of them."
"Certainly," answered Harry, who was always ready for adventures, and he lifted up the opening of the tent nearest.
"Oh! what a perfect place!" he cried; "come! look!" and he disappeared within.
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.
The children all peeped in, their heads looking like a bunch of grapes, all piled one on top of the other; while Harry, inside, pretended he was a showman, and made them a speech.
"Walk in, ladies and gentlemen," he said, "and see the show—all for sixpence; children half price. Here you have one small bed, or humble cot, one camp stool, one very small looking-glass, on the back of which," he continued, turning it suddenly over, "is a picture of the great Napoleon Bonaparte, running away, with his drawn sword in one hand, and a leg of mutton in the other; while just below is another of an old cadet, poking a young one with his bayonet."
The children were laughing heartily over these specimens of the fine arts, drawn by one of the cadets, when
Bang! tr-tr-tr-tr-tr-tr. Bang! tr-tr-tr-tr-tr-tr went the drums again. Off they hurried to the parade-ground, and there, out in the bright morning sunlight, which came down like "flickering gold" through the glowing air, galloped that fierce and brave Colonel Hardie, who looked as if he should consider it the merest trifle to fight a dozen enemies at once, and kill them all, as a matter of course.