sk in her hand. 'Whose pretty ankles are these? I
think I ought to know them,' said an officer, as she passed along. 'No
flattery will do with me, Monsieur,' cried Minette; 'it's hard enough
to get one's living here, without giving Nantz brandy for nothing.'
Saerigtif when the laugh made her turn about, she saw it was the Petit
Caporal himself who spoke to her. Poor Minette! she blushed scarlet, and
nearly dropped with shame; but that did not prevent her dashing up the
breach towards the wounded man; not that it was of any use, though,--he
was dead when she got up."

"I should like much to see mademoiselle. Is she still with the Fourth?"

"Yes, mon lieutenant; I parted with her a few hours ago."

A half suppressed sigh that followed these words showed that the worthy
corporal was touched on the most tender key of his nature, and for some
time he lapsed into a silence I could not venture to break. At length,
desiring to give the conversation a turn, I asked if he knew the
Capitaine Pichot.

"Know him!" cried Pioche, almost bounding in his saddle as he spoke.
"That I do. _Peste!_ I have good reason to know him: see there." With
that he lifted the curled mustache from his upper lip, and disclosed
to my view a blue scar that marked one side of his mouth. "That was his
doing."

"Indeed! How so, pray?"

"I 'll tell you. We were in garrison at Metz, where, as you know, the
great commissariat station is held,--thousands of cannon and mortars,
shells and shot, and tons of powder without end. Well, the orders were
very strict against smoking; any man found with a pipe in his mouth was
sentenced to a week in the 'salle de police,' and I can't say what else
besides. When we marched into the town, this order stared us in the
face; a great placard, with big letters, which they who could read said
was against smoking. Now, most of us came from Alsace, and it was pretty
much like setting a fish to live on dry land, bidding us go without
tobacco. As for me, I smoke just as I breathe, without knowing or
thinking of it. My pipe lies in my mouth as naturally as my foot rests
in the stirrup; and so, although I intended to obey the order, I knew
well the time might come when, just from not thinking, I should be
caught smoking away; for if I were on guard over a magazine it would be
all the same,--I could not help it. So I resolved, as the only way not
to be caught tripping, to leave all my pipes in a secret place, till
the time came f