Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

(64 A DANCE ASHORE.
boisterous mirth-sand soon the fun grew "' fast and furious."
It was a singular spectacle, as revealed to us by the light of a
huge fire on the bank, at which some hungry soldiers were
roasting a goat; and the ruddy glow emitted by the smoldering furnaces of the steamer, as she lay with bows inclined
to the shore. Those who heard that "' brisk awakening viol,"
or witnessed that G" gay fantastic round," certainly were not
inclined to think, that
"They saw in Tempe's vale her native maids,
Amidst the festal sounding shades,
To some unwearied minstrel dancing."
In front of the cottage of the musical shepherd, sat one of
our fifers and the new-found son of Apollo. Though they
could communicate with each other only through those dulcet
symphonies, —-compared with which " lactcagye is said to be
faint and weak, -yet they formed an amiable orchestra;
and, aided by the hoarse blasts of steam which were occasionally suffered to escape from the boat, succeeded admirably in
" making the night hideous with discordant sounds."I One
would have supposed, from the energy and evident delight of
the two artists, thus strangely brought together, that they, at
least, imagined themselves possessed by the spirits of Pan
and Paganini. The dancing, too, it must be admitted, was
eminently suited to the music, and became stronger in proportion as the wild strains grew louder. As the performers
trod the measure not upon'6 the light fantastic toe " alone,
but with their whole soles, the clatter of their heavy shoes,
like the sound of many cymbals, united to swell the din. The
soldiers, glad to be released from the crowded quarters to