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which the powers offered him。 But Napoleon had been blinded
by the blaze of his own glory。 He would recognise no equals。
He could tolerate no rivals。 And his hatred turned against
Russia； the mysterious land of the endless plains with its
inexhaustible supply of cannon…fodder。
As long as Russia was ruled by Paul I； the half…witted son
of Catherine the Great； Napoleon had known how to deal with
the situation。 But Paul grew more and more irresponsible
until his exasperated subjects were obliged to murder him
（lest they all be sent to the Siberian lead…mines） and the son of
Paul； the Emperor Alexander； did not share his father's affection
for the usurper whom he regarded as the enemy of mankind；
the eternal disturber of the peace。 He was a pious man
who believed that he had been chosen by God to deliver the
world from the Corsican curse。 He joined Prussia and England
and Austria and he was defeated。 He tried five times
and five times he failed。 In the year 1812 he once more taunted
Napoleon until the French Emperor； in a blind rage； vowed
that he would dictate peace in Moscow。 Then； from far and
wide； from Spain and Germany and Holland and Italy and
Portugal； unwilling regiments were driven northward； that the
wounded pride of the great Emperor might be duly avenged。
The rest of the story is common knowledge。 After a march
of two months； Napoleon reached the Russian capital and
established his headquarters in the holy Kremlin。 On the night
of September 15 of the year 1812； Moscow caught fire。 The
town burned four days。 When the evening of the fifth day
came； Napoleon gave the order for the retreat。 Two weeks
later it began to snow。 The army trudged through mud and
sleet until November the 26th when the river Berezina was
reached。 Then the Russian attacks began in all seriousness。
The Cossacks swarmed around the ‘‘Grande Armee'' which
was no longer an army but a mob。 In the middle of December
the first of the survivors began to be seen in the German cities
of the East。
Then there were many rumours of an impending revolt。
‘‘The time has come；'' the people of Europe said； ‘‘to free ourselves
from this insufferable yoke。'' And they began to look
for old shotguns which had escaped the eye of the ever…present
French spies。 But ere they knew what had happened； Napoleon
was back with a new army。 He had left his defeated soldiers
and in his little sleigh had rushed ahead to Paris； making
a final appeal for more troops that he might defend the sacred
soil of France against foreign invasion。
Children of sixteen and seventeen followed him when he
moved eastward to meet the allied powers。 On October 16；
18； and 19 of the year 1813； the terrible battle of Leipzig took
place where for three days boys in green and boys in blue
fought each other until the Elbe ran red with blood。 On the
afternoon of the 17th of October； the massed reserves of Russian
infantry broke through the French lines and Napoleon
fled。
Back to Paris he went。 He abdicated in favour of his small
son； but the allied powers insisted that Louis XVIII； the
brother of the late king Louis XVI； should occupy the French
throne； and surrounded by Cossacks and Uhlans； the dull…eyed
Bourbon prince made his triumphal entry into Paris。
As for Napoleon he was made the sovereign ruler of the
little island of Elba in the Mediterranean where he organised
his stable boys into a miniature army and fought battles on a
chess board。
But no sooner had he left France than the people began
to realise what they had lost。 The last twenty years； however
costly； had been a period of great glory。 Paris had been the
capital of the world。 The fat Bourbon king who had learned
nothing and had forgotten nothing during the days of his
exile disgusted everybody by his indolence。
On the first of March of the year 1815； when the representatives
of the allies were ready to begin the work of unscrambling
the map of Europe； Napoleon suddenly landed near
Cannes。 In less than a week the French army had deserted
the Bourbons and had rushed southward to offer their swords
and bayonets to the ‘‘little Corporal。'' Napoleon marched
straight to Paris where he arrived on the twentieth of March。
This time he was more cautious。 He offered peace； but the
allies insisted upon war。 The whole of Europe arose against
the ‘‘perfidious Corsican。'' Rapidly the Emperor marched
northward that he might crush his enemies before they should
be able to unite their forces。 But Napoleon was no longer his
old self。 He felt sick。 He got tired easily。 He slept when he
ought to have been up directing the attack of his advance…
guard。 Besides； he missed many of his faithful old generals。
They were dead。
Early in June his armies entered Belgium。 On the 16th
of that month he defeated the Prussians under Blucher。 But
a subordinate commander failed to destroy the retreating army
as he had been ordered to do。
Two days later； Napoleon met Wellington near Waterloo。
It was the 18th of June； a Sunday。 At two o'clock of the
afternoon； the battle seemed won for the French。 At three a
speck of dust appeared upon the eastern horizon。 Napoleon
believed that this meant the approach of his own cavalry who
would now turn the English defeat into a rout。 At four o'clock
he knew better。 Cursing and swearing； old Blucher drove
his deathly tired troops into the heart of the fray。 The shock
broke the ranks of the guards。 Napoleon had no further reserves。
He told his men to save themselves as best they could；
and he fled。
For a second time； he abdicated in favor of his son。 Just
one hundred days after his escape from Elba； he was making
for the coast。 He intended to go to America。 In the year
1803； for a mere song； he had sold the French colony of
Louisiana （which was in great danger of being captured by
the English） to the young American Republic。 ‘‘The Americans；''
so he said； ‘‘will be grateful and will give me a little bit
of land and a house where I may spend the last days of my life
in peace and quiet。'' But the English fleet was watching all
French harbours。 Caught between the armies of the Allies
and the ships of the British； Napoleon had no choice。 The
Prussians intended to shoot him。 The English might be more
generous。 At Rochefort he waited in the hope that something
might turn up。 One month after Waterloo； he received orders
from the new French government to leave French soil inside
of twenty…four hours。 Always the tragedian； he wrote a letter
to the Prince Regent of England （George IV； the king； was
in an insane asylum） informing His Royal Highness of his
intention to ‘‘throw himself upon the mercy of his enemies and
like Themistocles； to look for a welcome at the fireside of his
foes 。 。 。
On the 15th of July he went on board the ‘‘Bellerophon；''
and surrendered his sword to Admiral Hotham。 At Plymouth
he was transferred to the ‘‘Northumberland'' which carried