Page:Artabanzanus (Ferrar, 1896).djvu/80

72 black Angus bull, stood before me smiling not unpleasantly. He saluted me in military fashion, and asked, in good English, would I be pleased to dress, and come out to breakfast. No, I was already dressed, not having undressed at all, and I had no appetite for breakfast. I was nearly saying 'sir' to the monster. He was a benevolent looking monster, too, and gazed at me curiously with his large blue-black eyes, as who should say: 'Ah! massa debble be good friend, belly good friend to you, sare.'

Then he asked me if I wished to have my boots cleaned! I replied in amazement:

'My boots cleaned! Heaven and earth, no, my good fellow, there is no mud down here; but only let me get a tight hold of your General Astoragus, and I will polish my own boots in fine style.'

The grenadier grinned diabolically.

Would I, he presently asked, be pleased to accompany his master to the Royal Park to see a grand review of the army.

'Certainly,' I answered, 'I will accompany him with great pleasure, as I am under his protection. There's nothing I take a greater delight in than a good review. I have seen many in the Phoenix Park, close by where I was born. Will there be many troops on the ground?'

'Only a million, sare.'

'What, a million! do you mean to say a million?'

The monster nodded gravely.

'Bless my soul! a million of men in arms! thank Heaven it is not real war. Yes, tell your master I shall be happy to bear him company, I shall certainly be there. A million men under arms! what next, in the fiend's name?'

The sable grenadier saluted again, and withdrew. In about half an hour he returned and informed me that his