dant on horseback, whom I had informed of what had taken place,
asked in a sonorous voice, as he saw the litter pass him:

"'What have you there?'

"And immediately a small head, covered with light hair, appeared,
disheveled and smiling, and replied:

"'It is I, Monsieur.'

"At this, the men raised a hearty laugh, and we felt quite
light-hearted, while Pratique, who was walking by the side of the
litter, waved his kepi, and shouted:

"Vive la France!' And I felt really moved. I do not know why, except
that I thought it a pretty and gallant thing to say.

"It seemed to me as if we had just saved the whole of France, and had
done something that other men could not have done, something simple,
and really patriotic. I shall never forget that little face, you may be
sure, and if I had to give my opinion about abolishing drums, trumpets,
and bugles, I should propose to replace them in every regiment by a
pretty girl, and that would be even better than playing the
'Marseillaise.' By Jove! it would put some spirit into a trooper to
have a Madonna like that, a living Madonna, by the colonel's side."

He was silent for a few moments, and then with an air of conviction,
and jerking his head, continued:

"You see, we are very fond of women, we Frenchmen!"

[1] Forage-caps.

[2] Volunteers, in the Franco-German war of 1870-71, of whom the
Germans often made short work when caught.

TWO LITTLE SOLDIERS

Every Sunday, the moment they were dismissed, the two little soldiers
made off. Once outside the barracks, they struck out to the right
through Courbevoie, walking with long rapid strides, as though they
were on a march.

When they were beyond the last of the houses, they slackened pace along
the bare, dusty roadway which goes toward Bezons.

They were both small and thin, and looked quite lost in their coats,
which were too big and too long. Their sleeves hung down over their
hands, and they found their enormous red breeches, which compelled them
to waddle, very much in the way. Under their stiff, high helmets their
faces had little character--two poor, sallow Breton faces, simple with
an almost animal simplicity, and with gentle and quiet blue eyes.

They never conversed during these walks, but went straight on, each
with the same thought in his head. This thought atoned for the lack of
conversation; it was this, that just inside the little wood near Les
Champioux they had found a place which reminded them of