s much as to say: "Come, let us be going! there is no time to
lose." Everybody rose and the sun came up splendidly over the grain
fields, and we could feel beforehand how hot it would be at noon.

Buche and all the detailed men set off with their canteens for water,
while others were lighting handfuls of straw with tinder for their
fires. There was no lack of wood, as each one took an armful from the
piles that were already cut. Corporal Duhem and Sergeant Rabot and
Zebede came to have a talk with me. We were together in 1813, and they
had been at my wedding, and in spite of the difference in our rank they
had always continued their friendship for me.

"Well! Joseph," said Zebede, "the dance is going to commence."

"Yes," I replied, and recalling the words of poor Sergeant Pinto the
morning before Lutzen, I added with a wink, "this, Zebede, will be a
battle, as Sergeant Pinto said, where you will gain the cross between
the thrusts of ramrod and bayonet, and if you do not have a chance now
you need never expect it."

They all began to laugh, and Zebede said:

"Yes, indeed, the poor old fellow richly deserved it, but it is harder
to catch than the bouquet at the top of a climbing pole."

We all laughed, and as they had a flask of brandy, we took a crust of
bread together as we watched the movements of the enemy which began to
be perceptible. Buche had returned among the first with his canteen
and now stood behind us with his ears wide open like a fox on the alert.

Files of cavalry came out of the woods and crossed the grain fields in
the direction of St. Amand, the large village at the left of Fleurus.

"Those," said Zebede, "are the light horse of Pajol who will deploy as
scouts. These are Exelman's dragoons. When the others have
ascertained the positions they will advance in line, that is the way
they always do, and the cannon will come with the infantry. The
cavalry will form on the right or the left and support the flanks, and
the infantry will take the front rank. They will form their attacking
columns on the good roads and in the fields, and the affair will begin
with a cannonade for twenty minutes or half an hour, more or less, and
when half the batteries are disabled, the Emperor will choose a
favorable moment to put us in, but it is we who will catch the bullets
and canister because we are nearest. We advance, carry arms, in
readiness for a charge, at a quick step and in good order, but it
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