While these things were going on within the house Loubet outside had
discovered a field of potatoes; he and Lapoulle scaled the fence and
were digging the precious tubers with their hands and stuffing their
pockets with them when Chouteau, who in the pursuit of knowledge was
looking over a low wall, gave a shrill whistle that called them
hurriedly to his side. They uttered an exclamation of wonder and
delight; there was a flock of geese, ten fat, splendid geese,
pompously waddling about a small yard. A council of war was held
forthwith, and it was decided that Lapoulle should storm the place and
make prisoners of the garrison. The conflict was a bloody one; the
venerable gander on which the soldier laid his predaceous hands had
nearly deprived him of his nose with its bill, hard and sharp as a
tailor's shears. Then he caught it by the neck and tried to choke it,
but the bird tore his trousers with its strong claws and pummeled him
about the body with its great wings. He finally ended the battle by
braining it with his fist, and it had not ceased to struggle when he
leaped the wall, hotly pursued by the remainder of the flock, pecking
viciously at his legs.

When they got back to camp, with the unfortunate gander and the
potatoes hidden in a bag, they found that Jean and Pache had also been
successful in their expedition, and had enriched the common larder
with four loaves of fresh bread and a cheese that they had purchased
from a worthy old woman.

"The water is boiling and we will make some coffee," said the
corporal. "Here are bread and cheese; it will be a regular feast!"

He could not help laughing, however, when he looked down and saw the