pontooners, and began his work of mercy by setting fire to the camp on
the side nearest the bridge, so compelling the sleepers to rise and
cross the Beresina. Meanwhile the young aide-de-camp, not without
difficulty, reached the one wooden house yet left standing in
Studzianka.

[*] This story can be found in _The Country Parson_.--eBook preparers.

"So the box is pretty full, is it, messmate?" he said to a man whom he
found outside.

"You will be a knowing fellow if you manage to get inside," the
officer returned, without turning round or stopping his occupation of
hacking at the woodwork of the house with his sabre.

"Philip, is that you?" cried the aide-de-camp, recognizing the voice
of one of his friends.

"Yes. Aha! is it you, old fellow?" returned M. de Sucy, looking round
at the aide-de-camp, who like himself was not more than twenty-three
years old. "I fancied you were on the other side of this confounded
river. Do you come to bring us sweetmeats for dessert? You will get a
warm welcome," he added, as he tore away a strip of bark from the wood
and gave it to his horse by way of fodder.

"I am looking for your commandant. General Eble has sent me to tell
him to file off to Zembin. You have only just time to cut your way
through that mass of dead men; as soon as you get through, I am going
to set fire to the place to make them move--"