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adored the man who had stood victoriously at their head at Lodi and
Milan； and borne the banner forward amid the murderous shower of
balls at the bridge of Arcoli。 Diplomatists and statesmen wondered
at him who had taken Venice； and compelled proud and hated Austria
to make peace with the French republic； which had brought Marie
Antoinette to the scaffold。 The republicans and the Directory of the
republic feared Bonaparte； because they recognized an enemy of the
republic in him； and dreaded his growing power and increasing
renown。
On this account General Bonaparte was recalled from the Italian army
after peace had been made with Austria； and he returned to Paris。
Still he was so feared that the Directory of the republic； in order
to remove him； and at the same time to give occupation to his active
spirit and his splendid abilities； proposed to Bonaparte to go with
an army to Egypt； and extend the glory of France to the distant
East。
Bonaparte entered with all his fiery nature into this idea which
Barras and Talleyrand had sought to inveigle him into； and all his
time； his thoughts； and his energies were directed to the one
purpose； to fit himself out with every thing that should be needful
to bring to a victorious end a long and stubborn war in a foreign
land。 A strong fleet was collected； and Bonaparte； as the commander
of the many thousands who were to go to Egypt under him； called to
his aid the most skilful； valiant； and renowned generals of the
French army。
It could not fail that one of the first and most eminent of these
was General Kleber； and； of course； his young adjutant and nephew
Louis accompanied him。
On the 19th of April； 1798； the French fleet left the harbor of
Toulon； and sailed toward the East； for； as Bonaparte said； 〃Only in
the Orient are great realms and great deedsin the Orient； where
six hundred millions of men live。〃
But these six hundred millions have no army such as the French is；
no commander like Bonaparte； no generals like Murat； Junot； Desaix；
and； above all； Kleber。
Kleber was the second in command。 He shared his perils； he shared
his victories； and with him was united his nephew Louis； a youth of
fourteen years； who； from his tall； slim figure； his gravity； and
his ready understanding； would have passed at least for a youth of
eighteen； and who； trained in the school of misfortune； belonged to
those early…matured natures which destiny has steeled； that they may
courageously contend with and gain the victory over destruction。
It was on the morning of the 3d of July。 The French army had
disembarked； and stood not far from Alexandria； on the ancient
sacred soil of Egypt。 Whatever was done must be done quickly； for
Nelson was approaching with a fleet； prepared to contend with the
French for the possession of Alexandria。 Should the city not be
taken before the arrival of the English fleet； the victory would be
doubtful。 Bonaparte knew this well。 〃Fortune gives us three days'
time at the most；〃 cried he； 〃and if we do not use them we are
lost！〃
But he did use them！ With fearful rapidity the disembarkation of the
troops was effected； with fearful rapidity the French army arranged
itself on Egyptian soil in three divisions； under Morand； Bon； and
Kleber。 Above them all was he whose head had conceived the gigantic
undertaking； he whose heroic spirit comprehended the whole。 This was
Bonaparte。
After inspecting all the army and issuing his orders； he rode up the
hill in company with his staff to the pillar of Pompey； in order to
observe from that point the course of events。 The army was advancing
impetuously； and soon the city built by Alexander the Great must
open its gates to his successor； Bonaparte the Great。
After a short respite； the army advanced farther into the land of
the pyramids。 〃Remember；〃 cried Bonaparte to his soldiers； pointing
to those monuments〃remember that forty centuries look down upon
you。〃
And the pyramids of the great plain of Cairo beheld the glorious
deeds and victories of the French army； beheld the overthrow of the
Egyptian host。 The Nile murmured with its blood…red waves the death…
song of the brave Mamelukes； and the 〃forty centuries〃 which looked
down from the pyramids were obliterated by the glorious victories
that Bonaparte gained at the foot of those sacred monuments。 A new
epoch was to begin。 The old epoch was buried for Egypt； and out of
the ruins of past centuries a new Egypt was to be born； an Egypt
which was to serve France and be tributary to it as a vassal。
This was Bonaparte's plan； and he did every thing to bring it to
completion。 He passed from battle to battle； from victory to
victory； and after conquering Egypt and taking up his residence in
Cairo； he at once began to organize the newly…won country； and to
introduce to the idle and listless East the culture of the earnest
and progressive West。 But Egypt would not accept the treasures of
culture at the hand of its conqueror。 It rose again and again in
rebellion against the power that held it down； and hurled its
flaming torches of revenge against the hated enemy。 A token of this
may be seen in the dreadful revolt at Cairo； which began in the
night of the 20th of October； and； after days of violence； ended
with the cruel cutting down of six thousand Mamelukes。 A proof of it
may be seen in the constantly renewed attacks of swarms of Bedouins
and Mamelukes on the French army。 These hordes advanced even to the
gates of Cairo； and terrified the population； which had at last
taken refuge beneath the foot of the conqueror。 But Bonaparte
succeeded in subjugating the hostile Bedouin tribes； as he had
already subjugated the population of the cities。 He sent one of his
adjutants； General Croisier； with a corps of brave soldiers； into
the desert to meet the emir of the hostile tribes； and Croisier won
respect for the commands of his general。 He succeeded in taking
captive the whole body。 A fearful sentence was inflicted on them。
Before the eyes of their wives； their children； and their mothers；
all the men of the tribe； more than five hundred in number； were
killed and their heads put into sacks。 The howling and weeping women
and children were driven to Cairo。 Many perished of hunger on the
road； or died beneath the sabre…blows of their enemies； but more
than a thousand succeeded in reaching Cairo。 They were obliged to
encamp upon the great square El Bekir； in the heart of Cairo； till
the donkeys arrived which bore the dreadful spoils of victory in
blood…dripping bags upon their backs。 The whole population of Cairo
was summoned to this gigantic square； and was obliged to look on
while the sacks were opened and the bloody heads rolled out upon the
sacred soil of Egypt。
After this time quiet reigned for a season。 Horror had brought the
conquered into subjection； and Bonaparte could continue his
victorious course。 He withdrew to Syria； taking with him Kleber and
Kleber's young adjutant； the little Louis。 He saw the horrors of
war； he was there； the son of the Kings of France； when the army of
the republic conquered the cities El Arish and Gaza； he took part by
the side of Kleber in the storming of Jaffa。 He was there when the
captured Jaffa had to open its gates to the victors。 He was there
when； in the great caravansary； four thousand Turkish soldiers
grounded their arms and surrendered themselves as prisoners； after
receiving the promise that their lives should be spared。 He was
there； too； the son of Marie Antoinette； when the unfortunates were
driven down to the sea…coast and shot； in order that their enemies
might be rid of them。 He was there； the son of Louis XVI。； when
Bonaparte visited the pest…house in Jaffa； he walked through the
sick…rooms at the side of his uncle Kleber； who noticed how the face
of the young man； which had so often been calm in meeting death on
the battle…field or in the storm of assault； now quivered； and the
paleness of death swept over his cheeks。
〃What was the matter； my son？〃 asked Kleber； as he returned home
from this celebrated visit to the pest…house。 〃Why did you turn pale
all at once； Louis？〃
〃General；〃 responded Louis； perplexed； 〃I know not how to answer。〃
〃You ought not to have gone with me to the hospital；〃 said Kleber；
shaking his head。 〃You know I did not want you to go at first； but
you insisted on it； and begged and implored so long that at last I
had to yield and let you accompany us。 But； I confess it myself； it
was a dreadful sight； these sick people with their swollen bodies
covered with blood and running sores。 I understand now why you
trembled and turned paleyou were afraid of this dreadful
sickness？〃
〃No； general；〃 answered Louis； softly〃no； I have no fear。 Did you
not notice that I sprang forward and assisted General Bonaparte；
when he lifted up the poor sick man who lay on the floor before the
door； and that I helped carry him into the room？〃
〃I saw it； Louis； and I was much pleased with your courage； and was
therefore surprised afterward when you turned pale and trembled； and
I saw tears in your eyes。 What agitated you all at once so much？〃
The young man slowly raised his head and looked at Kleber w