design. The longing for freedom, which inspires prisoners to
accomplish impossibilities, cannot be compared with the hope which
lent energy at that moment to these forlorn Frenchmen.

"The Russians are upon us! Here are the Russians!" the guard shouted
to the workers.

The timbers creaked, the raft grew larger, stronger, and more
substantial. Generals, colonels, and common soldiers all alike bent
beneath the weight of wagon-wheels, chains, coils of rope, and planks
of timber; it was a modern realization of the building of Noah's ark.
The young Countess, sitting by her husband's side, looked on,
regretful that she could do nothing to aide the workers, though she
helped to knot the lengths of rope together.

At last the raft was finished. Forty men launched it out into the
river, while ten of the soldiers held the ropes that must keep it
moored to the shore. The moment that they saw their handiwork floating
on the Beresina, they sprang down onto it from the bank with callous
selfishness. The major, dreading the frenzy of the first rush, held
back Stephanie and the general; but a shudder ran through him when he
saw the landing place black with people, and men crowding down like
playgoers into the pit of a theatre.

"It was I who thought of the raft, you savages!" he cried. "I have
saved your lives, and you will not make room for me!"

A confused murmur was the only answer. The men at the edge took up
stout poles, trust them against the bank with all their might, so as
to shove the raft out and gain an impetus at its starting upon a