cumstances, some of which he did not reveal; they remain in his
own breast. However, on the eve of a general attack, which he cannot
postpone, that bastion must be disarmed, otherwise it would be too fatal
to all the storming parties. It is a painful necessity." He added, "Tell
Colonel Dujardin I count greatly on the courage and discipline of his
brigade, and on his own wise measures."

Colonel Dujardin bowed. Then he whispered in the other's ear, "Both will
alike be wasted."

The other colonels waved their hats in triumph at the
commander-in-chief's decision, and Raynal's face showed he looked on
Dujardin as a sort of spoil-sport happily defeated.

"Well, then, gentlemen," said General Raimbaut, "we begin by settling
the contingents to be furnished by your several brigades. Say, an equal
number from each. The sum total shall be settled by Colonel Dujardin,
who has so long and ably baffled the bastion at this post."

Colonel Dujardin bowed stiffly and not very graciously. In his heart he
despised these old fogies, compounds of timidity and rashness.

"So, how many men in all, colonel?" asked General Raimbaut.

"The fewer the better," replied the other solemnly, "since"--and then
discipline tied his tongue.

"I understand you," said the old man. "Shall we say eight hundred men?"

"I should prefer three hundred. They have made a back door to the
bastion, and the means of flight at hand will put flight into their
heads. They will pick off some of our men as we go at them. When the
rest jump in they will jump out, and"--He paused.

"Why, he knows all about it before it comes," said one of the colonels
naively.

"I do. I see the whole operation and its result before me, as I see this
hand. Three hundred men will do."

"But, general," objected Raynal, "you are not beginning at the
beginning. The first thing in these cases is to choose the officer to
command the storming party."

"Yes, Raynal, unquestionably; but you must be aware that is a painful
and embarrassing part of my duty, especially after Colonel Dujardin's
remarks."

"Ah, bah!" cried Raynal. "He is prejudiced. He has been digging a
thundering long mine here, and now you are going to make his child
useless. We none of us like that. But when he gets the colors in his
hand, and the storming column at his back, his misgivings will all go to
the wind, and the enemy after them, unless he has been committing some
crime, and is very much changed from what I