an find for the cavalry is to send it in after
the battle is ended and let it be cut to pieces? No, faith, I'm sick
of the business, giving us such dirty work as that to do!" There was
silence between them for a moment; then he went on, doubtless to quiet
the reproaches of his conscience as a soldier: "And then the work is too
heavy here just now; the plowing is just commencing, and then there'll
be the fall sowing to be looked after. We must think of the farm work,
mustn't we? for fighting is well enough in its way, but what would
become of us if we should cease to till the ground? You see how it is;
I can't leave my work. Not that I am particularly in love with Father
Fouchard, for I doubt very strongly if I shall ever see the color of his
money, but the beasties are beginning to take to me, and faith! when
I was up there in the Old Field this morning, and gave a look at that
d----d Sedan lying yonder in the distance, you can't tell how good it
made me feel to be guiding my oxen and driving the plow through the
furrow, all alone in the bright sunshine."

As soon as it was fairly dark, Doctor Dalichamp came driving up in his
old gig. It was his intention to see Maurice to the frontier. Father
Fouchard, well pleased to be rid of one of his guests at least, stepped
out upon the road to watch and make sure there were none of the enemy's
patrols prowling in the neighborhood, while Silvine put a few stitches
in the blouse of the defunct ambulance man, on the sleeve of which the
red cross of the corps was prominently displayed. The doctor, before
taking his place in the vehicle, examined Jean's leg anew, but could not
as yet promise that he would be able to save it. The patient was still
in a profound lethargy, recognizing no one, never opening his mouth
to speak, and Maurice was about to leave him without the comfort of a
farewell, when, bending over to give him a last embrace, he saw him open
his eyes to their full extent; the lips parted, and in a faint voice he
said:

"You are going away?" And in reply to their astonished looks: "Yes, I
heard what you said, though I could not stir. Take the remainder of the
money, then. Put your hand in my trousers' pocket and take it."

Each of them had remaining nearly two hundred francs of the sum they had
received from the corps paymaster.

But Maurice protested. "The money!" he exclaimed. "Why, you have more
need of it than I, who have the use of both my legs. Two hundred francs