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was better at fencing than myself； he was vastly taller than I；
being of a stature almost gigantic； and proportionately strong。 In
the inky blackness of the shed； it was impossible to see his eyes；
and from the suppleness of the wands； I did not like to trust to a
parade。 I made up my mind accordingly to profit； if I might； by my
defect； and as soon as the signal should be given； to throw myself
down and lunge at the same moment。 It was to play my life upon one
card： should I not mortally wound him； no defence would be left me；
what was yet more appalling； I thus ran the risk of bringing my own
face against his scissor with the double force of our assaults； and
my face and eyes are not that part of me that I would the most
readily expose。
'ALLEZ！' said the sergeant…major。
Both lunged in the same moment with an equal fury； and but for my
manoeuvre both had certainly been spitted。 As it was； he did no
more than strike my shoulder； while my scissor plunged below the
girdle into a mortal part； and that great bulk of a man； falling
from his whole height； knocked me immediately senseless。
When I came to myself I was laid in my own sleeping…place； and
could make out in the darkness the outline of perhaps a dozen heads
crowded around me。 I sat up。 'What is it？' I exclaimed。
'Hush！' said the sergeant…major。 'Blessed be God； all is well。' I
felt him clasp my hand； and there were tears in his voice。 ''Tis
but a scratch； my child； here is papa； who is taking good care of
you。 Your shoulder is bound up； we have dressed you in your
clothes again； and it will all be well。'
At this I began to remember。 'And Goguelat？' I gasped。
'He cannot bear to be moved； he has his bellyful； 'tis a bad
business；' said the sergeant…major。
The idea of having killed a man with such an instrument as half a
pair of scissors seemed to turn my stomach。 I am sure I might have
killed a dozen with a firelock； a sabre； a bayonet； or any accepted
weapon； and been visited by no such sickness of remorse。 And to
this feeling every unusual circumstance of our rencounter； the
darkness in which we had fought； our nakedness； even the resin on
the twine； appeared to contribute。 I ran to my fallen adversary；
kneeled by him； and could only sob his name。
He bade me compose myself。 'You have given me the key of the
fields； comrade；' said he。 'SANS RANCUNE！'
At this my horror redoubled。 Here had we two expatriated Frenchmen
engaged in an ill…regulated combat like the battles of beasts。
Here was he； who had been all his life so great a ruffian； dying in
a foreign land of this ignoble injury； and meeting death with
something of the spirit of a Bayard。 I insisted that the guards
should be summoned and a doctor brought。 'It may still be possible
to save him；' I cried。
The sergeant…major reminded me of our engagement。 'If you had been
wounded；' said he； 'you must have lain there till the patrol came
by and found you。 It happens to be Goguelat … and so must he！
Come； child； time to go to by…by。' And as I still resisted；
'Champdivers！' he said； 'this is weakness。 You pain me。'
'Ay； off to your beds with you！' said Goguelat； and named us in a
company with one of his jovial gross epithets。
Accordingly the squad lay down in the dark and simulated； what they
certainly were far from experiencing； sleep。 It was not yet late。
The city； from far below； and all around us； sent up a sound of
wheels and feet and lively voices。 Yet awhile； and the curtain of
the cloud was rent across； and in the space of sky between the
eaves of the shed and the irregular outline of the ramparts a
multitude of stars appeared。 Meantime； in the midst of us lay
Goguelat； and could not always withhold himself from groaning。
We heard the round far off； heard it draw slowly nearer。 Last of
all； it turned the corner and moved into our field of vision： two
file of men and a corporal with a lantern； which he swung to and
fro； so as to cast its light in the recesses of the yards and
sheds。
'Hullo！' cried the corporal； pausing as he came by Goguelat。
He stooped with his lantern。 All our hearts were flying。
'What devil's work is this？' he cried； and with a startling voice
summoned the guard。
We were all afoot upon the instant； more lanterns and soldiers
crowded in front of the shed； an officer elbowed his way in。 In
the midst was the big naked body； soiled with blood。 Some one had
covered him with his blanket； but as he lay there in agony； he had
partly thrown it off。
'This is murder！' cried the officer。 'You wild beasts； you will
hear of this to…morrow。'
As Goguelat was raised and laid upon a stretcher； he cried to us a
cheerful and blasphemous farewell。
CHAPTER III … MAJOR CHEVENIX COMES INTO THE STORY； AND GOGUELAT
GOES OUT
THERE was never any talk of a recovery； and no time was lost in
getting the man's deposition。 He gave but the one account of it：
that he had committed suicide because he was sick of seeing so many
Englishmen。 The doctor vowed it was impossible； the nature and
direction of the wound forbidding it。 Goguelat replied that he was
more ingenious than the other thought for； and had propped up the
weapon in the ground and fallen on the point … 'just like
Nebuchadnezzar；' he added； winking to the assistants。 The doctor；
who was a little； spruce； ruddy man of an impatient temper； pished
and pshawed and swore over his patient。 'Nothing to be made of
him！' he cried。 'A perfect heathen。 If we could only find the
weapon！' But the weapon had ceased to exist。 A little resined
twine was perhaps blowing about in the castle gutters； some bits of
broken stick may have trailed in corners； and behold； in the
pleasant air of the morning； a dandy prisoner trimming his nails
with a pair of scissors！
Finding the wounded man so firm； you may be sure the authorities
did not leave the rest of us in peace。 No stone was left unturned。
We were had in again and again to be examined； now singly； now in
twos and threes。 We were threatened with all sorts of impossible
severities and tempted with all manner of improbable rewards。 I
suppose I was five times interrogated； and came off from each with
flying colours。 I am like old Souvaroff； I cannot understand a
soldier being taken aback by any question； he should answer； as he
marches on the fire； with an instant briskness and gaiety。 I may
have been short of bread； gold or grace； I was never yet found
wanting in an answer。 My comrades； if they were not all so ready；
were none of them less staunch； and I may say here at once that the
inquiry came to nothing at the time； and the death of Goguelat
remained a mystery of the prison。 Such were the veterans of
France！ And yet I should be disingenuous if I did not own this was
a cas