nt to a
commission, and my joy was full. At that moment, a chamberlain announced
that breakfast was served, and as I was calculating on having to wait in
the gallery until the Emperor had finished, he pointed with his finger
towards the dining-room, and said, 'You will breakfast with me.' As this
honour had never been paid to any officer of my rank, I was the more
flattered. During breakfast I learnt that the Emperor and the marshal
had not been to bed all night, and that when they heard the cannon on
the opposite bank they had all rushed on to the balcony. The Emperor
made me tell again the way in which I had surprised the three prisoners,
and laughed much at the fright and surprise which they must have felt.

At last, the arrival of the wagons was announced, but they had much
difficulty in making their way through the crowd, so eager were the
people to see the boatmen. Napoleon, thinking this very natural, gave
orders to open the gates, and let everybody come into the court. Soon
after, the grenadiers, the boatmen, and the prisoners were led into the
gallery. The Emperor, through his interpreter, first questioned the
three Austrian soldiers, and learning with satisfaction that not only
General Hiller's corps, but the whole of the archduke's army, were on
the other bank, he told Berthier to give the order for the troops to
march at once on Saint-Polten. Then, calling up the corporal and the
five soldiers, he fastened the Cross on their breast, appointed them
knights of the Empire, and gave them an annuity of 1,200 francs apiece.
All the veterans wept for joy. Next came the boatmen's turn. The Emperor
told them that, as the danger they had run was a good deal more than he
had expected, it was only fair that he should increase their reward; so,
instead of the 6,000 francs promised, 12,000 in gold were given to them
on the spot. Nothing could express their delight; they kissed the hands
of the Emperor and all present, crying, 'Now we are rich!' Napoleon
laughingly asked the syndic if he would go the same journey for the same
price the next night. But the man answered that, having escaped by
miracle what seemed certain death, he would not undertake such a journey
again even if his lordship, the abbot of Moelk, would give him the
monastery and all its possessions. The boatmen withdrew, blessing the
generosity of the French Emperor, and the grenadiers, eager to show off
their decoration before their comrades, were about to go