cers was Napoleon Bonaparte. Barras
had the foresight to bring up as much artillery as possible, as his men
were few. Napoleon saw that these guns were placed so as to enfilade
the principal streets. His experience at Toulon, as well as his
natural genius for strategy, stood him in good stead. The "whiff of
grape-shot" which he fired on that October day, in 1795, cleared the
streets of the opposition--and likewise cleared the pathway for him
leading eventually to a throne.

The whole world knows of the later deeds of this slim figure who thus
steps masterfully forward to the center of the most troubled stage in
Europe. Days of conflict and turmoil were yet to follow for Napoleon,
but never days of uncertainty. He had found himself. In six short
years the brooding misanthrope, the gawky young man who shunned his
fellows, became the self-possessed leader of men, wielding a power of
personal magnetism that was almost uncanny.

At twenty-six his larger career may be said to have begun. This slight
boyish figure takes command of the Army of Italy and leads that
memorable campaign to the conquest of Italy before he was thirty.
Promptly nicknamed "The Little Corporal" by his army, the term was
speedily turned from one of derision to positive affection. Napoleon
himself accepted it as a compliment. He learned to understand his men,
to fraternize with them, to bring out the best that was in them.

This was one of the chief secrets of his marvellous career. He was an
able strategist, a skilled diplomatist, a man of vision and cunning.
But despite all these and other high qualities, he would have fallen
short of success if he had not possessed his ability to read and to
sway the hearts of men. Whence came this power to one who had been a
lonely and derided boy? It was as though a magician's wand had touched
him overnight.

We have space to give only one picture from the crowded panorama of
this world-conqueror, emperor, and exile. It will serve to show the
powerful magnetism of his personality--perhaps serve to explain in some
slight degree the magic of the mere name of Napoleon, throughout the
ranks of his armies.

Napoleon the mighty had fallen. He had been sent into exile on the
Isle of Elba, but had escaped, and now with a little army of a thousand
men was marching boldly north to reconquer France. The news spread
rapidly, and the King now on the throne sent Marshal Ney, a former
General under Napoleon, t