"'Non, mon colonel,' said he, and from the way he spoke I perceived he was intoxicated, 'it's all the fault of that _damne_ Mungo. Il m'a manque.' "But I paid no attention to what he said and rode on, concluding _Mungo_ was some slang term of the men for drink. "Some evenings after this, I was riding back from my brother's quarter--he was in the 15th, and was stationed about a mile from us--when I remarked the same dog I had seen before, trot up to a sentry who, with his legs crossed, was leaning against a wall. The man started, and began walking backwards and forwards on his beat. I recognised the dog by a large white streak on his side--all the rest of his coat being black. "When I came up to the man, I saw it was Jokel Falck, and although I could not have said he was asleep, I strongly suspected that that was the fact. "'You had better take care of yourself, my man,' said I. 'I have half a mind to have you relieved, and make a prisoner of you. I believe I should have found you asleep on your post, if that dog had not roused you.' "Instead of looking penitent, as was usual on these occasions, I saw a half smile on the man's face, as he saluted me. "'Whose dog is that?' I asked my servant, as I rode away. "'Je ne sais pas mon, Colonel,' he answered, smiling too. "On the same evening at mess, I heard one of the subalterns say to the officer who sat next him, 'It's a fact, I assure you, and they call him Mungo.' "'That's a new name they've got for Schnapps, isn't it?' I said. "'No, sir; it's the name of a dog,' replied the young man, laughing. "'A black Newfoundland, with a large white streak on his flank?' "'Yes, sir, I believe that is the description,' replied he, tittering still. "'I have seen that dog two or three times,' said I. 'I saw him this evening--who does he belong to?' "'Well, sir, that is a difficult question,' answered the lad; and I heard his companion say, 'To Old Nick, I should think.' "'Do you mean to say you've really seen Mungo?' said somebody at the table. "'If Mungo is a large Newfoundland--black, with a white streak on its side--I saw him just now. Who does he belong to?' "By this time, the whole mess table was in a titter, with the exception of one old captain, a man who had been years in the regiment. He was of very humble extraction, and had risen by merit to his present position. "'I believe Captain T. is better acquainted with Mungo than anybody present,' answered Major R., with a sneer. 'Perhaps he can tell you who he belongs to.' "The laughter increased, and I saw there was some joke, but not understanding what it meant, I said to Captain G., 'Does the dog belong to Jokel Falck?' "'No, sir,' he replied, 'the dog belongs to nobody now. He once belonged to an officer called Joseph Atveld.' "'Belonging to this regiment?' "'Yes, sir.' "'He is dead, I suppose?' "'Yes, sir, he is.' "'And the dog has attached himself to the regiment?' "'Yes, sir.'