he is refreshed for a few hours.

"They say you are to have the Military Medal," the head doctor told him.

Leglise confided to me later, with some hesitation:

"I don't suppose they would really give me the medal!"

"And why not?"

"I was punished; one of my men had some buttons off his overcoat."

Oh, my friend, scrupulous lad, could I love my countrymen if they could
remember those wretched buttons for an instant?

"My men!" he said gravely. I look at his narrow chest, his thin face,
his boyish forehead with the serious furrow on it of one who accepts
all responsibilities, and I do not know how to show him my respect and
affection.

Leglise's fears were baseless. General G----arrived just now. I met him
on the terrace. His face pleased me. It was refined and intelligent.

"I have come to see Corporal Leglise," he said.

I took him into the ward, full of wounded men, and he at once went
towards Leglise unhesitatingly, as if he knew him perfectly.

"How are you?" he asked, taking the young man's hand.

"Mon General, they've cut off my leg..."

"Yes, yes, I know, my poor fellow. And I have brought you the Military
Medal."

He pinned it on to Leglise's shirt, and kissed my friend on both cheeks,
simply and affectionately.

Then he talked to him again for a few minutes.

I was greatly pleased. Really, this General is one of the right sort.

The medal has been wrapped in a bit of muslin, so that the flies may not
soil it, and hung on the wall over the bed. It seems to be watching over
the wounded man, to be looking on at what is happening. Unfortunately,
what it sees is sad enough. The right leg, the only leg, is giving us
trouble now. The knee is diseased, it is in a very bad state, and all
we have done to save it seems to have been in vain. Then a sore has
appeared on the back, and then another sore. Every morning, we pass from
one misery to another, telling the beads of suffering in due order.

So a man does not die of pain, or Leglise would certainly be dead. I
see him still, opening his eyes desperately and checking the scream that
rises to his lips. Oh! I thought indeed that he was going to die. But
his agony demands full endurance; it does not even stupefy those it
assails.

I call on every one for help.

"Genest, Barrassin, Prevot, come, all of you."

Yes, let ten of us do our best if necessary, to support Leglise, to hold
him, to soothe him. A minute of his endurance is equal to ten years