JUNOT AND NAPOLEON.


This soldier of fortune being one day, during the siege of Toulon, at his
post at the battery of St. Culottes, an officer of artillery, who had
recently come from Paris to direct the operations of the siege, asked from
the officer who commanded the post for a young non-commissioned officer who
had at once intelligence and boldness. The officer immediately called for
Junot; the officer surveyed him with that eye which already began to take
the measure of human capacity.

"You will change your dress," said the commander, "and you will go there
to bear this order." He showed him with his hand a spot at a distance on
the same side. The young sergeant blushed up to the eyes; his eyes
kindled with fire. "I am not a spy," said he, "to execute their orders;
seek another to bear them." "Do you refuse to obey?" said the superior
officer; "do you know to what punishment you expose yourself in so
doing?" "I am ready to obey," said Junot, "but I will go in my uniform,
or not at all." The commander smiled, and looked at him attentively.
"But if you do, they will kill you." "What does that signify?" said
Junot; "you know me little to imagine I would be pained at such an
occurrence, and, as for me, it is all one--come, I go as I am; is it not
so?" And he set off singing.

After he was gone, the superior officer asked, "What is the name of that
young man?" "Junot," replied the other. The commanding officer then
wrote his name in his pocket-book. "He will make his way," he replied.
This judgment was already of decisive importance to Junot, for the
reader must readily have divined that the officer of artillery was
Napoleon.