gathered in a knot--two of them artillery officers, the others
officers of the line. His first impulse was to turn and escape, for
he shunned all companionship just now. But a second glance told him
what was happening; and, prompt on the understanding, he plunged
straight down the sandy bank, walked up to a young artillery officer
and took the pistol out of his hand. That was all, and it all
happened in less than three minutes. The would-be duellist--and
challenges had been common since the late assault--knew the man and
his story. For that matter, every one in the army knew his story.

As a ghost he awed them. For a moment he stood looking from one to
the other, and so, drawing the charge, tossed the pistol back at its
owner's feet and resumed his way.

Corporal Sam, who had merely seen the slight figure pass beyond the
edge of the dunes, went back and flung himself again on the warm
bank.

'If a man did that wrong to me--' he repeated.



CHAPTER IV.


Certainly, just or unjust, the Marquis could make himself infernally
unpleasant. Having ridden over from head-quarters and settled the
plans for the new assault, he returned to his main army and there
demanded fifty volunteers from each of the fifteen regiments
composing the First, Fourth, and Light Divisions--men (as he put it)