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d none； and epaulettes for the knowing fellows that knew how to write。 。 。 。 Victory is the cry all along the line！ And； upon my word； there were twenty…five thousand Frenchmen lying on the field。 No more； I assure you！ Such a thing was never seen before； it was just like a field when the corn is cut； with a man lying there for every ear of corn。 That sobered the rest of us。 The Man comes； and we make a circle round about him； and he coaxes us round （for he could be very nice when he chose）； and persuades us to dine with Duke Humphrey； when we were hungry as hunters。 Then our consoler distributes the Crosses of the Legion of Honor himself； salutes the dead； and says to us； 'On to Moscow！'
〃 'To Moscow； so be it；' says the army。
〃We take Moscow。 What do the Russians do but set fire to their city！ There was a blaze； two leagues of bonfire that burned for two days！ The buildings fell about our ears like slates； and molten lead and iron came down in showers； it was really horrible； it was a light to see our sorrows by； I can tell you！ The Emperor said； 'There； that is enough of this sort of thing； all my men shall stay here。'
〃We amuse ourselves for a bit by recruiting and repairing our frames； for we really were much fatigued by the campaign。 We take away with us a gold cross from the top of the Kremlin； and every soldier had a little fortune。 But on the way back the winter came down on us a month earlier than usual； a matter which the learned （like a set of fools） have never sufficiently explained； and we are nipped with the cold。 We were no longer an army after that； do you understand？ There was an end of generals and even of the sergeants； hunger and misery took the command instead； and all of us were absolutely equal under their reign。 All we thought of was how to get back to France； no one stooped to pick up his gun or his money； every one walked straight before him； and armed himself as he thought fit； and no one cared about glory。
〃The Emperor saw nothing of his star all the time； for the weather was so bad。 There was some misunderstanding between him and heaven。 Poor man； how bad he felt when he saw his Eagles flying with their backs turned on victory！ That was really too rough！ Well； the next thing is the Beresina。 And here and now； my friends； any one can assure you on his honor； and by all that is sacred； that NEVER； no； never since there have been men on earth； never in this world has there been such a fricasse of an army； caissons； transports； artillery and all； in such snow as that and under such a pitiless sky。 It was so cold that you burned your hand on the barrel of your gun if you happened to touch it。 There it was that the pontooners saved the army； for the pontooners stood firm at their posts； it was there that Gondrin behaved like a hero； and he is the sole survivor of all the men who were dogged enough to stand in the river so as to build the bridges on which the army crossed over； and so escaped the Russians； who still respected the Grand Army on account of its past victories。 And Gondrin is an accomplished soldier；〃 he went on； pointing to his friend； who was gazing at him with the rapt attention peculiar to deaf people； 〃a distinguished soldier who deserves to have your very highest esteem。
〃I saw the Emperor standing by the bridge；〃 he went on； 〃and never feeling the cold at all。 Was that； again； a natural thing？ He was looking on at the loss of his treasures； of his friends； and those who had fought with him in Egypt。 Bah！ there was an end of everything。 Women and wagons and guns were all engulfed and swallowed up； everything went to wreck and ruin。 A few of the bravest among us saved the Eagles； for the Eagles； look you； meant France； and all the rest of you； it was the civil and military honor of France that was in our keeping； there must be no spot on the honor of France； and the cold could never make her bow her head。 There was no getting warm except in the neighborhood of the Emperor； for whenever he was in danger we hurried up； all frozen as we werewe who would not stop to hold out a hand to a fallen friend。
〃They say； too； that he shed tears of a night over his poor family of soldiers。 Only he and Frenchmen could have pulled themselves out of such a plight； but we did pull ourselves out； though； as I am telling you； it was with loss； ay； and heavy loss。 The Allies had eaten up all our provisions； everybody began to betray him； just as the Red Man had foretold。 The rattle…pates in Paris； who had kept quiet ever since the Imperial Guard had been established； think that HE is dead； and hatch a conspiracy。 They set to work in the Home Office to overturn the Emperor。 These things come to his knowledge and worry him； he says to us at parting； 'Good…bye； children； keep to your posts； I will come back again。'
〃Bah！ Those generals of his lose their heads at once； for when he was away； it was not like the same thing。 The marshals fall out among themselves； and make blunders； as was only natural； for Napoleon in his kindness had fed them on gold till they had grown as fat as butter； and they had no mind to march。 Troubles came of this； for many of them stayed inactive in garrison towns in the rear； without attempting to tickle up the backs of the enemy behind us； and we were being driven back on France。 But Napoleon comes back among us with fresh troops； conscripts they were； and famous conscripts too； he had put some thorough notions of discipline into themthe whelps were good to set their teeth in anybody。 He had a bourgeois guard of honor too； and fine troops they were！ They melted away like butter on a gridiron。 We may put a bold front on it； but everything is against us； although the army still performs prodigies of valor。 Whole nations fought against nations in tremendous battles； at Dresden； Lutzen； and Bautzen； and then it was that France showed extraordinary heroism； for you must all of you bear in mind that in those times a stout grenadier only lasted six months。
〃We always won the day； but the English were always on our track； putting nonsense into other nations' heads； and stirring them up to revolt。 In short； we cleared a way through all these mobs of nations； for wherever the Emperor appeared； we made a passage for him； for on the land as on the sea； whenever he said； 'I wish to go forward；' we made the way。
〃There comes a final end to it at last。 We are back in France； and in spite of the bitter weather； it did one's heart good to breathe one's native air again； it set up many a poor fellow； and as for me； it put new life into me； I can tell you。 But it was a question all at once of defending France； our fair land of France。 All Europe was up in arms against us； they took it in bad part that we had tried to keep the Russians in order by driving them back within their own borders； so that they should not gobble us up； for those Northern folk have a strong liking for eating up the men of the South； it is a habit they have； I have heard the same thing of them from several generals。
〃So the Emperor finds his own father…in…law； his friends whom he had made crowned kings； and the rabble of princes to whom he had given back their thrones； were all against him。 Even Frenchmen and allies in our own ranks turned against us； by orders from high quarters； as at Leipsic。 Common soldiers would hardly be capable of such abominations； yet these princes； as they called themselves； broke their words three times a day！ The next thing they do is to invade France。 Wherever our Emperor shows his lion's face； the enemy beats a retreat； he worked more miracles for the defence of France than he had ever wrought in the conquest of Italy； the East； Spain； Europe； and Russia； he has a mind to bury every foreigner in French soil； to give them a respect for France； so he lets them come close up to Paris； so as to do for them at a single blow； and to rise to the highest height of genius in the biggest battle that ever was fought； a mother of battles！ But the Parisians wanting to save their trumpery skins； and afraid for their twopenny shops； open their gates and there is a beginning of the ragusades； and an end of all joy and happiness； they make a fool of the Empress； and fly the white flag out at the windows。 The Emperor's closest friends among his generals forsake him at last and go over to the Bourbons； of whom no one had ever heard tell。 Then he bids us farewell at Fontainbleau：
〃 'Soldiers！' 。 。 。 （I can hear him yet； we were all crying just like children； the Eagles and the flags had been lowered as if for a funeral。 Ah！ and it was a funeral； I can tell you； it was the funeral of the Empire； those smart armies of his were nothing but skeletons now。） So he stood there on the flight of steps before his chateau； and he said：
〃 'Children； we have been overcome by treachery； but we shall meet again up above in the country of the brave。 Protect my child； I leave him in your care。 LONG LIVE NAPOLEON II。！'
〃He had thought of killing himself； so that no one should behold Napoleon after his defeat； like Jesus Christ before the Crucifixion； he thought himself forsaken by God and by his talisman； and so he took enough poison to kill a regiment； but it had no effect whatever upon him。 Another marvel！ h