And I reasoned with myself thus:--'Now you are caught, there is no use in repining: make the best of your situation, and get all the pleasure you can out of it.

There are a thousand opportunities of plunder, &c., offered to the soldier in war-time, out of which he can get both pleasure and profit: make use of these, and be happy.

Besides, you are extraordinarily brave, handsome, and clever: and who knows but you may procure advancement in your new service ?' In this philosophical way I looked at my misfortunes, determining not to be cast down by them; and bore woes and my broken head with perfect magnanimity.

The latter was, for the moment, an evil against which it required no small powers of endurance to contend; for the jolts of the waggon were dreadful, and every shake caused a throb in my brain which I thought would have split my skull.

As the morning dawned, I saw that the man next me, a gaunt yellow-haired creature, in black, had a cushion of straw under his head.
'Are you wounded, comrade ?' said I.
'Praised be the Lord,' said he, 'I am sore hurt in spirit and body, and bruised in many members; wounded, however, am I not.