one
stricken eagle!"

So she reined up before the Marshal and his staff, and the few great
personages whom Algeria could bring around them, as indifferently as she
had many a time reined up before a knot of grim Turcos, smoking under a
barrack-gate. He was nothing to her: it was her army that crowned her.

Nevertheless, despite her gay contempt for rank, her heart beat fast
under its gold-laced packet as she reined up Etoile and saluted. In that
hot, clear sun all the eyes of that immense host were fastened on
her, and the hour of her longing desire was come at last. France had
recognized that she had done greatly. There was a group before her,
large and brilliant, but at them Cigarette never looked; what she saw
were the faces of her "children," of men who, in the majority, were
old enough to be her grandsires, who had been with her through so many
darksome hours, and whose black and rugged features lightened and grew
tender whenever they looked upon their Little One. For the moment she
felt giddy with sweet, fiery joy; they were here to behold her thanked
in the name of France.

The Marshal, in advance of all his staff, doffed his plumed hat and
bowed to his saddle-bow as he faced her. He knew her well by sight, this
pretty child of his Army of Africa, who had, before then, suppressed
mutiny like a veteran, and led the charge like a Murat--this kitten with
a lion's heart, this humming-bird with an eagle's swoop.

"Mademoiselle," he commenced, while his voice, well skilled to such
work, echoed to the farthest end of the long lines of troops, "I have
the honor to discharge to-day the happiest duty of my life. In conveying
to you the expression of the Emperor's approval of your noble conduct in
the present campaign, I express the sentiments of the whole Army. Your
action on the day of Zaraila was as brilliant in conception as it was
great in execution; and the courage you displayed was only equaled by
your patriotism. May the soldiers of many wars remember and emulate you.
In the name of France, I thank you. In the name of the Emperor, I bring
to you the Cross of the Legion of Honor."

As the brief and soldierly words rolled down the ranks of the listening
regiments, he stooped forward from the saddle and fastened the red
ribbon on her breast; while from the whole gathered mass, watching,
hearing, waiting breathlessly to give their tribute of applause to
their darling also, a great shout rose as with one voice, str