ssing hours nor the flying bullets.

He was only awakened from his miserable trance by the even tread of
soldiers marching towards him; he looked up and there were several
officers coming along the edge of the trench, escorted by a corporal's
guard.

He took a step or two to meet them. After the usual salutes, one of the
three colonels delivered a large paper, with a large seal, to Dujardin.
He read it out to his captains and lieutenants, who had assembled at
sight of the cocked hats and full uniforms.

"Attack by the army to-morrow upon all the lines. Attack of the bastion
St. Andre this evening. The 22d, the 24th, and 12th brigades will
furnish the contingents; the operation will be conducted by one of the
colonels of the second division, to be appointed by General Raimbaut."

"Aha!" sounded a voice like a trombone at the reader's elbow. "I am just
in the nick of time. When, colonel, when?"

"At five this evening, Colonel Raynal."

"There," said Raynal, in a half-whisper, to Dujardin; "could they choose
no hour but that?"

"Do not be uneasy," replied Dujardin, under his breath. He explained
aloud--"the assault will not take place, gentlemen; the bastion is
mined."

"What of that? half of them are mined. We will take our engineers in
with us," said Raynal.

"Such an assault will be a useless massacre," resumed Dujardin. "I
reconnoitred the bastion last night, and saw their preparations for
blowing us to the devil; and General Raimbaut, at my request, is even
now presenting my remarks to the commander-in-chief, and enforcing them.
There will be no assault. In a day or two we shall blow the bastion,
mines, and all into the air."

At this moment Raynal caught sight of a gray-haired officer coming at
some distance. "There IS General Raimbaut," said he. "I will go and
pay my respects to him." General Raimbaut shook his hand warmly, and
welcomed him to the army. They were old and warm friends. "And you are
come at the right time," said he. "It will soon be as hot here as in
Egypt."

Raynal laughed and said all the better.

General Raimbaut now joined the group of officers, and entered at once
in the business which had brought him. Addressing himself to
Colonel Dujardin, first he informs that officer he had presented his
observations to the commander-in-chief, who had given them the attention
they merited.

Colonel Dujardin bowed.

"But," continued General Raimbaut, "they are overruled by imperious
cir