An educated gentleman, Mr Manington has given an insight into the unusual experiences of an Englishman in the French Foreign Legion, such as no ordinary "mercenary" could have done. Most of the narrative deals with Tonquin, and the fighting there against the rebels in their forest fastnesses. Incidentally, in giving an account of his friendship for the native sergeant, Doy-Tho, the author has been able to impart to the pages of the book an Oriental atmosphere that we think will prove attractive to the reader. Acknowledgment is due to his friend, M. Cézard, who is fully acquainted with the ground covered, both as a public servant of France and as an accomplished artist, for the illustrations which appear in this volume; also to General Frey and Messrs Hachette, the author and publishers of a military work on Tonquin, for permission to reproduce the map and plans of forts, in relation to the events spoken of in the description of the author's service under the Tricolor. The map was prepared by the officers of the topographical section of the French army in Tonquin, and gives a detailed outline of the country in which most of the experiences described by "A Soldier of the Legion" took place. W.B.S. A.J.S. LONDON, _June 1907_. CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE The _Ministère de la Guerre_--The recruiting office--Would-be warriors--The Commandant--A repulse--Enlisted--Something about the Legion--Marseilles--The _Abd-el-Kader_--Oran--Sidi-bel-Abbes --In camp--Snow in Africa--Another Briton--Instruction of recruits--An American--The 3rd Battalion--Barrack-room pranks--Route-marching 1-42 CHAPTER II General inspection--The band of the Legion--The _caporal sapeur_--Off to the manoeuvres--A near thing--Convalescence--Arzew --Amateur theatricals--Bel-Abbes again--Volunteers for Tonquin--Oran again--A good send-off--The troop-ship _Bien-Hoa_, life on board--The Padre--Saigon--Along Bay 43-68 CHAPTER III Some information concerning Tonquin--Haïphong--Phulang-Thuong--The 2nd Battalion--The Yen-Thé Rebellion--General Godin's column--A surprise at Cao-Thuong--Colonel Frey's column--Nha-Nam--The building of a fort--Reconnaissance--Night attacks--Native troops 69-134 CHAPTER IV The difficulties of obtaining military intelligence--Native spies--Ambuscades--Life at Nha-Nam--Doy-Tho--De Lipthay--A tropical storm--The capture of Linh-Nghi--Monsieur de Lanessan--French colonial administration 135-197 CHAPTER V An execution--A rebel chieftain--A bid for liberty--De-Nam's mistake--Linh-Nghi speaks--A new road to Thaï-Nguyen--In the enemy's country--A sharp encounter--Cho-Trang--The fever-fiend--In the hospital--Quang-Yen 198-247 CHAPTER VI