We crossed the frontier,--the whole lot of us,--and marched, and
marched, and marched. No Russians! At last we found the rascals, camping
on the bank of the Moscow River. That's where I got my cross; and I take
leave to say that it was the damnedest of battles! Napoleon himself was
worried, because the Red Man had appeared again and had said to him, "My
son, you are going too fast; you will run short of men, and your friends
will betray you." Thereupon the Emperor proposed peace; but before the
treaty was signed he said to us, "Let's give those Russians a
drubbing!"

"All right!" said the army.

"Forward!" shout the sergeants.

My clothes were going to pieces and my shoes were all worn out from
tramping over the bad roads out there, but I said to myself, "Never
mind; since this is the last of the rumpus, I'll make 'em give me a
bellyful!"

We were drawn up near the edge of the great ravine--in the front seats!
The signal was given, and seven hundred pieces of artillery began a
conversation that was enough to bring the blood from your ears. Well, to
do justice to one's enemies, I must admit that the Russians let
themselves be killed like Frenchmen. They wouldn't give way, and we
couldn't advance.

"Forward!" shouted our officers. "Here comes the Emperor!" And there he
was, passing at a gallop, and motioning to us that it was very important
to capture the redoubt. He put new life into us, and on we ran. I was