The Fatal Boots by William Makepeace Thackeray

Dobble's reputation for courage was not increased by the butcher's-dog / adventure; but mine stood very high: little Stubbs was voted the boldest / chap of all the bold North Bungays. And though I must confess, what was / proved by subsequent circumstances, that nature has NOT endowed me with / a large, or even, I may say, an average share of bravery, yet a man is / very willing to flatter himself to the contrary; and, after a little / time, I got to believe that my killing the dog was an action of / undaunted courage, and that I was as gallant as any of the one hundred / thousand heroes of our army. I always had a military taste -- it's only / the brutal part of the profession, the horrid fighting and blood, that I / don't like.

I suppose the regiment was not very brave itself -- being only militia; / but certain it was, that Stubbs was considered a most terrible fellow, / and I swore so much, and looked so fierce, that you would have fancied / I had made half a hundred campaigns. I was second in several duels; the / umpire in all disputes; and such a crack-shot myself, that fellows were / shy of insulting me. As for Dobble, I took him under my protection; and / he became so attached to me, that we ate, drank, and rode together every / day; his father didn't care for money, so long as his son was in good / company -- and what so good as that of the celebrated Stubbs? Heigho! I / WAS good company in those days, and a brave fellow too, as I should have / remained, but for -- what I shall tell the public immediately.