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wl of that feather。 Napoleon is vexed； and he says to us：
〃 'Soldiers！ You have been the masters of every capital in Europe； except Moscow； which is allied to England。 So； in order to conquer London and India； which belongs to them in London； I find it absolutely necessary that we go to Moscow。'
〃Thereupon the greatest army that ever wore gaiters； and left its footprints all over the globe； is brought together； and drawn up with such peculiar cleverness； that the Emperor passed a million men in review； all in a single day。
〃 'Hourra！' cry the Russians； and there is all Russia assembled； a lot of brutes of Cossacks； that you never can come up with！ It was country against country； a general stramash； we had to look out for ourselves。 'It was all Asia against Europe；' as the Red Man had said to Napoleon。 'All right；' Napoleon had answered； 'I shall be ready for them。'
〃And there； in fact； were all the kings who came to lick Napoleon's hand。 Austria； Prussia； Bavaria； Saxony； Poland； and Italy； all speaking us fair and going along with us； it was a fine thing！ The Eagles had never cooed before as they did on parade in those days； when they were reared above all the flags of all the nations of Europe。 The Poles could not contain their joy because the Emperor had a notion of setting up their kingdom again； and ever since Poland and France have always been like brothers。 In short； the army shouts； 'Russia shall be ours！'
〃We cross the frontiers； all the lot of us。 We march and better march； but never a Russian do we see。 At last all our watch…dogs are encamped at Borodino。 That was where I received the Cross； and there is no denying that it was a cursed battle。 The Emperor was not easy in his mind； he had seen the Red Man； who said to him； 'My child； you are going a little too fast for your feet； you will run short of men； and your friends will play you false。'
〃Thereupon the Emperor proposes a treaty。 But before he signs it； he says to us：
〃 'Let us give these Russians a drubbing！'
〃 'All right！' cried the army。
〃 'Forward！' say the sergeants。
〃My clothes were all falling to pieces； my shoes were worn out with trapezing over those roads out there； which are not good going at all。 But it is all one。 'Since here is the last of the row；' said I to myself； 'I mean to get all I can out of it。'
〃We were posted before the great ravine； we had seats in the front row。 The signal is given； and seven hundred guns begin a conversation fit to make the blood spirt from your ears。 One should give the devil his due； and the Russians let themselves be cut in pieces just like Frenchmen； they did not give way； and we made no advance。
〃 'Forward！' is the cry； 'here is the Emperor！'
〃So it was。 He rides past us at a gallop； and makes a sign to us that a great deal depends on our carrying the redoubt。 He puts fresh heart into us； we rush forward； I am the first man to reach the gorge。 Ah！ mon Dieu！ how they fell； colonels； lieutenants； and common soldiers； all alike！ There were shoes to fit up those who had 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 fami