ht through the
cold and the wet and the mud. The Prussians are in front of us. They
are drawn out in long widely separated columns. They have no idea that
we are near them. One more effort, one more march, and we shall fall
upon them. We shall pierce their lines, cut them to pieces, beat them
in detail; we shall seize their camps, their guns, their clothes, their
food. We shall take back the plunder they have gathered as they have
ravaged France. They have stolen and destroyed and murdered--you have
seen it. One more march, one more battle for----" he hesitated a
moment--"for me," he said with magnificent egotism and audacity. "I
have not forgotten how to lead, nor you to follow. We will show them
that at the great game of war we are still master players. Come, if
there be one too weary to walk, he shall have his Emperor's horse and I
will march afoot as I have often done for France."

He spoke with all his old force and power. The tremendous personal
magnetism of the man was never more apparent. The young men of Ney's
corps thrilled to the splendid appeal. There was something
fascinating, alluring in the picture. They hated the Prussians. They
had seen the devastated fields, the dead men and women, the ruined
farms. The light from the fire played mystically about the great
Emperor on his white horse. He seemed to them like a demi-god. There
were a few old soldiers in the battalion. The habit of years was upon
them.

"_Vive l'Empereur_," one veteran shouted.

Another caught it up and finally the whole division roared out that
frightful and thrilling battle cry in unison.

"That's well," said the Emperor, a little color coming into his face.
"If the lads are of this mettle, what may I expect of the old soldiers
of the guard?"

"Forward! Forward!" shouted a beardless boy in one of the front ranks.

"You hear, Marshal Ney?" said Napoleon, turning to his fighting
Captain. "With such soldiers as these I can go anywhere and do
anything."

"Your Majesty," cried a staff officer, riding up at a gallop, "the
peasants are bringing their horses in. There is a section of country
to the eastward which has not yet been ridden over by the enemy."

"Good," said the Emperor. "As fast as they come up dispatch them to
Marmont. You will find me there by the fire in the square for the next
hour. Meanwhile I want the next brigade of horse that reaches Sezanne
to be directed to scout in the direction of Aume