patient, broke out anew. The remainder of
the group were grenadiers of his own regiment, in whose sad and
sorrow-struck faces one might read the affection his men invariably bore
him.

"Is he coming? can you hear any one coming?" said the young surgeon, in
an anxious whisper to the soldier beside him.

"No, sir; but he cannot be far off now," replied the man.

"Shall I ride back to Reygern for assistance?" said I, in a low voice,
to the surgeon.

"I thank you, sir," said the wounded man, in a low, calm tone,--for with
the quick ear of suffering he had overheard my question,--"I thank you,
but my orderly has already been sent thither. If you could relieve my
young friend here from his fatiguing duty for a little, you would render
us both a service. I am truly grieved to see him so much exhausted."

"No, no, sir!" stammered the youth, as the tears ran fast down his
cheeks; "this is my place. I will not leave it."

"Kind fellow!" muttered the general, as he pressed his hand gently on
the young man's arm; "I can bear this better than you can."

"Ah, here he comes now," said the sentinel; and the same moment a man
dismounted from his horse, and came forward towards us.

It was Louis, the surgeon of the Emperor himself, despatched by Napoleon
the moment he heard of the event. At any other moment, perhaps, the
abrupt demeanor of this celebrated surgeon would have savored little
of delicacy or feeling; nor even then could I forgive the sudden
announcement in which he conveyed to the sufferer that immediate
amputation must be performed.

"No chance left but this, Louis?" said the general.

"None, sir," replied the doctor, while he unlocked an instrument case,
and busied himself in preparation for the operation.

"Can you defer it a little; an hour or two, I mean?"

"An hour, perhaps; not more, certainly."

"But am I certain of your services then, Louis?" said the general,
trying to smile. "You know I always promised myself your aid when this
hour came."

"I shall return in an hour," replied the doctor, pulling out his watch;
"I am going to Rapp's quarters."

"Poor Rapp! is he wounded?"

"A mere sabre-cut; but Sebastiani has suffered more severely. Now then,
Lanusse," said he, addressing the young surgeon, "you remain here.
Continue as you are doing, and in an hour--"

"In an hour," echoed the wounded man, with a shudder, as though the
anticipation of the dreadful event had thrilled through his very heart.
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