of Bellevue, looking down upon the river. Percy had taken the
horses out of the wagon, and accompanied his brother, ostensibly to
carry back any articles purchased.

At one of the villas Ralph expressed a great desire to go out into
the garden, to look over Paris; and the officer with him--being in
an excellent humor, at the disposal of some articles at much higher
prices than he had expected to receive; and at having the proceeds,
in German bank notes, in his pockets--went out himself, and pointed
out all the various objects of interest.

The fog of a winter's evening was already shutting in the view, but
the boys could see the principal buildings of Paris. The towers of
Notre Dame, the domes of the Pantheon and Invalides, the heights of
Montmartre and Vilette, and the forts of Issy and Vanves were
distinctly visible. The boys' eyes turned, however, more to the
river at their feet, and the intervening ground, than upon the
objects--however interesting--of distant Paris.

"Do not show yourself," the officer said. "If we were caught sight
of, from Issy or Point du Jour--or from that gunboat, below--we
should have a rain of shells about us, in no time. You can look out
from among the trees; but do not get beyond their shelter, or you
will be seen, instantly."

The house in whose garden they were standing stood upon the brow of
the hill. Behind was a little wood, and gardens sloping
pretty-steeply down. Then along by the water was a street, with
houses upon either side. The river was, here, divided by an island;
the lower end of which, however, scarcely extended low enough to be
opposite to the spot upon which the boys were standing.

"Bless me," Ralph said, "it must be very dangerous, living down
there. Why, that gunboat could blow the place into the air."

"That she could," the officer said, "and consequently, none of our
men live there. We have sentries along the river bank, and a few
others scattered about; but none of the troops are quartered there,
nor even in this line of villas where we now are. If we were to
show a light at night, in any window here, we should have a shell
in in a couple of minutes. We have no fear, whatever, of a sortie
in this direction; and have plenty of force behind."

Ralph and Percy lingered, upon one excuse or another; asking
questions as long as they could, and making the best use of their
time, to gain a fair idea of the ground that they would have to
cross. They had with them,