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〃We have had some trouble to bring them about；〃 Benassis answered； 〃but then； see what fine cattle they are！〃
〃They are splendid beasts certainly； you had good reason to praise them to me；〃 answered Genestas。
〃Now；〃 said the doctor； when he had mounted his horse and passed under the gateway； we are going over some of the newly cleared waste； and through the corn land。 I have christened this little corner of our Commune； 'La Beauce。' 〃
For about an hour they rode at a foot pace across fields in a state of high cultivation； on which the soldier complimented the doctor； then they came down the mountain side into the township again； talking whenever the pace of their horses allowed them to do so。 At last they reached a narrow glen； down which they rode into the main valley。
〃I promised yesterday；〃 Benassis said to Genestas； 〃to show you one of the two soldiers who left the army and came back to us after the fall of Napoleon。 We shall find him somewhere hereabouts； if I am not mistaken。 The mountain streams flow into a sort of natural reservoir or tarn up here； the earth they bring down has silted it up； and he is engaged in clearing it out。 But if you are to take any interest in the man； I must tell you his history。 His name is Gondrin。 He was only eighteen years old when he was drawn in the great conscription of 1792； and drafted into a corps of gunners。 He served as a private soldier in Napoleon's campaigns in Italy； followed him to Egypt； and came back from the East after the Peace of Amiens。 In the time of the Empire he was incorporated in the Pontoon Troop of the Guard； and was constantly on active service in Germany； lastly the poor fellow made the Russian campaign。〃
〃We are brothers…in…arms then； to some extent；〃 said Genestas； 〃I have made the same campaigns。 Only an iron frame would stand the tricks played by so many different climates。 My word for it； those who are still standing on their stumps after marching over Italy； Egypt； Germany； Portugal； and Russia must have applied to Providence and taken out a patent for living。〃
〃Just so； you will see a solid fragment of a man；〃 answered Benassis。 〃You know all about the Retreat from Moscow； it is useless to tell you about it。 This man I have told you of is one of the pontooners of the Beresina； he helped to construct the bridge by which the army made the passage； and stood waist…deep in water to drive in the first piles。 General Eble； who was in command of the pontooners； could only find forty…two men who were plucky enough； in Gondrin's phrase； to tackle that business。 The general himself came down to the stream to hearten and cheer the men； promising each of them a pension of a thousand francs and the Cross of the Legion of Honor。 The first who went down into the Beresina had his leg taken off by a block of ice； and the man himself was washed away； but you will better understand the difficulty of the task when you hear the end of the story。 Of the forty…two volunteers； Gondrin is the only one alive to…day。 Thirty…nine of them lost their lives in the Beresina； and the two others died miserably in a Polish hospital。
〃The poor fellow himself only returned from Wilna in 1814； to find the Bourbons restored to power。 General Eble （of whom Gondrin cannot speak without tears in his eyes） was dead。 The pontooner was deaf； and his health was shattered； and as he could neither read nor write； he found no one left to help him or to plead his cause。 He begged his way to Paris； and while there made application at the War Office； not for the thousand francs of extra pension which had been promised to him； nor yet for the Cross of the Legion of Honor； but only for the bare pension due to him after twenty…two years of service； and I do not know how many campaigns。 He did not obtain his pension or his traveling expenses； he did not even receive his arrears of pay。 He spent a year in making fruitless solicitations； holding out his hands in vain to those whom he had saved； and at the end of it he came back here； sorely disheartened but resigned to his fate。 This hero unknown to fame does draining work on the land； for which he is paid ten sous the fathom。 He is accustomed to working in a marshy soil； and so； as he says； he gets jobs which no one else cares to take。 He can make about three francs a day by clearing out ponds； or draining meadows that lie under water。 His deafness makes him seem surly； and he is not naturally inclined to say very much； but there is a good deal in him。
〃We are very good friends。 He dines with me on the day of Austerlitz； on the Emperor's birthday； and on the anniversary of the disaster at Waterloo； and during the dessert he always receives a napoleon to pay for his wine very quarter。 Every one in the Commune shares in my feeling of respect for him； if he would allow them to support him； nothing would please them better。 At every house to which he goes the people follow my example； and show their esteem by asking him to dine with them。 It is a feeling of pride that leads him to work； and it is only as a portrait of the Emperor that he can be induced to take my twenty…franc piece。 He has been deeply wounded by the injustice that has been done to him； but I think regret for the Cross is greater than the desire for his pension。
〃He has one great consolation。 After the bridges had been constructed across the Beresina； General Eble presented such of the pontooners as were not disabled to the Emperor； and Napoleon embraced poor Gondrin perhaps but for that accolade he would have died ere now。 This memory and the hope that some day Napoleon will return are all that Gondrin lives by。 Nothing will ever persuade him that Napoleon is dead； and so convinced is he that the Emperor's captivity is wholly and solely due to the English； that I believe he would be ready on the slightest pretext to take the life of the best…natured alderman that ever traveled for pleasure in foreign parts。〃
〃Let us go on as fast as possible！〃 cried Genestas。 He had listened to the doctor's story with rapt attention； and now seemed to recover consciousness of his surroundings。 〃Let us hurry！ I long to see that man！〃
Both of them put their horses to a gallop。
〃The other soldier that I spoke of；〃 Benassis went on； 〃is another of those men of iron who have knocked about everywhere with our armies。 His life； like that of all French soldiers； has been made up of bullets； sabre strokes； and victories； he has had a very rough time of it； and has only worn the woolen epaulettes。 He has a fanatical affection for Napoleon； who conferred the Cross upon him on the field of Valontina。 He is of a jovial turn of mind； and like a genuine Dauphinois； has always looked after his own interests； has his pension； and the honors of the Legion。 Goguelat is his name。 He was an infantry man； who exchanged into the Guard in 1812。 He is Gondrin's better half； so to speak； for the two have taken up house together。 They both lodge with a peddler's widow； and make over their money to her。 She is a kind soul； who boards them and looks after them； and their clothes as if they were her children。
〃In his quality of local postman； Goguelat carries all the news of the countryside； and a good deal of practice acquired in this way has made him an orator in great request at up…sittings； and the champion teller of stories in the district。 Gondrin looks upon him as a very knowing fellow； and something of a wit； and whenever Goguelat talks about Napoleon； his comrade seems to understand what he is saying from the movement of his lips。 There will be an up…sitting （as they call it） in one of my barns to…night。 If these two come over to it； and we can manage to see without being seen； I shall treat you to a view of the spectacle。 But here we are； close to the ditch； and I do not see my friend the pontooner。〃
The doctor and the commandant looked everywhere about them； Gondrin's soldier's coat lay there beside a heap of black mud； and his wheelbarrow； spade； and pickaxe were visible； but there was no sign of the man himself along the various pebbly watercourses； for the wayward mountain streams had hollowed out channels that were almost overgrown with low bushes。
〃He cannot be so very far away。 Gondrin！ Where are you？〃 shouted Benassis。
Genestas first saw the curling smoke from a tobacco pipe rise among the brushwood on a bank of rubbish not far away。 He pointed it out to the doctor； who shouted again。 The old pontooner raised his head at this； recognized the mayor； and came towards them down a little pathway。
〃Well； old friend；〃 said Benassis； making a sort of speaking…trumpet with his hand。 〃Here is a comrade of yours； who was out in Egypt； come to see you。〃
Gondrin raised is face at once and gave Genestas a swift； keen； and searching look； one of those glances by which old soldiers are wont at once to take the measure of any impending danger。 He saw the red ribbon that the commandant wore； and made a silent and respectful military salute。
〃If the Little Corporal were alive；〃 the officer cried； 〃you would have the Cross of the Legion of Honor and a handsome pension besides； for every man who wore epaulettes on the other side of the river owed his life to you on the 1st of October 1812。 But I am no