tat! tat! tat! tat! was heard a drum. Relieving guard in
the mine.

Colonel Dujardin interrupted himself.

"That comes apropos," said he. "I expect one proof more from that
quarter. Sergeant, send me the sentinel they are relieving."

Sergeant La Croix soon came back, as pompous as a hen with one chick,
predominating with a grand military air over a droll figure that
chattered with cold, and held its musket in hands clothed in great
mittens. Dard.

La Croix marched him up as if he had been a file; halted him like a
file, sang out to him as to a file, stentorian and unintelligible, after
the manner of sergeants.

"Private No. 4."

DARD. P-p-p-present!

LA CROIX. Advance to the word of command, and speak to the colonel.

The shivering figure became an upright statue directly, and carried one
of his mittens to his forehead. Then, suddenly recognizing the rank of
the gray-haired officer, he was morally shaken, but remained physically
erect, and stammered,--

"Colonel!--general!--colonel!"

"Don't be frightened, my lad. But look at the general and answer me."

"Yes! general! colonel!" and he levelled his eye dead at the general, as
he would a bayonet at a foe, being so commanded.

"Now answer in as few syllables as you can."

"Yes! general--colonel."

"You have been on guard in the mine."

"Yes, general."

"What did you see there?"

"Nothing; it was night down there."

"What did you feel?"

"Cold! I--was--in--water--hugh!"

"Did you hear nothing, then?"

"Yes."

"What?"

"Bum! bum! bum!"

"Are you sure you did not hear particles of earth fall at the end of the
trench?"

"I think it did, and this (touching his musket) sounded of its own
accord."

"Good! you have answered well; go."

"Sergeant, I did not miss a word," cried Dard, exulting. He thought
he had passed a sort of military college examination. The sergeant was
awe-struck and disgusted at his familiarity, speaking to him before the
great: he pushed Private Dard hastily out of the presence, and bundled
him into the trenches.

"Are you countermined, then?" asked General Raimbaut.

"I think not, general; but the whole bastion is. And we found it had
been opened in the rear, and lately half a dozen broad roads cut through
the masonry."

"To let in re-enforcements?"

"Or to let the men run out in ease of an assault. I have seen from the
first an able hand behind that part of the defences. If we assault the
bastion, they will p