, 1888-02-18

81 shall see thee off myself, my boy"
cried the captain, affectionately dropping
into the familiar "thee'' in his admiration
of Mauriac's resolution and courage; 81
shall come to take thee by the hand at
the moment of departure. When thy
preparations are finished thou wilt find
the others in the guard room; and now
adieu!'
The number of the recruits who were
to accompany Mauriac in his self elected
exile to Tonquin-as there were two full
regiments in the city at the time
amounted in all to twenty-six, and by Or
der of the military authorities the de-
tachment was to be conducted to the sta
ton by an escort of their comrades and
the regimental bands. In a city of the
province a fact of such importance is
quickly known, and it really seemed as if
the entire population had poured itself
into the streets in order to honor the pas
sage of the gallant troop, marching q lit
tie sadly, perhaps, but staggering and
proud, like men who recognized the
honor Of wearing the French uniform
and were willing to expose their lives in
order to preserve the privilege intact.
Before leaving the barracks, however,
l had forgotten to say that each and all
of his ancient tormentors had begged the
little Landais' pardon for their former
treatment of him, and that q purse, to
which men and officers alike contributed,
had been made up and presented to him,
in order that he should not find himself
penniless in a foreign country. True to
his word, also, the captain and q number
of other officers were waiting at the sta
ton to receive them, and two great tears
filled the eyes of the poor Jocrisse as the
officer, at the moment of his mounting
into the wagon, folded him in his arms
and gave him a tender and fatherly kiss.
His lips opened TO speak to thank his
comrades and his chief, but not n word
would come-not a syllable could he
utter-so great was his emotion.
The column had halted after n long
mt painful march for a brief rest-not q
comfortable one, you may be sure, for
the Pavilion-Noi and the Chinese q
lars, united in overwhelming numbers,
were both in the neighborhood, and har-
raised continually the brigade which was
on its way to the relief of the Command
ant Domino, besieged in Tuyen-Quan,
and tomorrow, at this very hour, per-
haps they would find themselves delivered
over to u terrible battle, for they would
be compelled from this on to literally cut
their way through.
All those who were not or duty guard
ing and caring for the camp had thrown
themselves down, resting and repairing
their strength, exhausted by hardship and
fatigue. All but one, that is, for off in n
corner, where he had retired alone, in
order that no N should disturb him, n
soldier was seated on the edge of the path
way reading n letter that the last courier
had brought him from France. His ewes
were full of tears, and from time to time,
before turning the leaf that he had read
over and over again, he passionately
pressed the paper to his lips and kissed it.
1t was Celestin Mauriac, or rather
Jocrisse, for his name had followed him
even there. A long time he remained
thus, plunged in reverio us sad, seemingly,
as it was absorbing; but suddenly the
shrill notes Of n trumpet rang through
the ART was the recall-and once more
laying his lips upon the precious paper
Jocrisse was on his feet md running to
resume his place in the column forming
for its onward march.
The combat had ended. Tho silence
of death succeeded the fusilade of an
hour ago, and the enemy, who had
strewn the earth with their corpses, was
in flight on all sides. The route was lib
erated-cleared; tomorrow afternoon,
at latest, they would be in sight of Tuyen-
Guam. But, alas! on our side the
wounded were numerous, also, for tho
struggle had been fierce and rough, the
column having becn forced to meet an
enemy courageous and ten times superior
in numbers.
In haste, however, and as well as they
could with the means at hand, they had
established an ambulance filed with dead
and wounded, and there in a corner,
upon n narrow camp bed, about which
his comrades clustered thickly, Celestin
Mauriac was extended. He had received
q ball full in the breast. which the sur
geon had tried to extract, but failed to
reach, and the little Landais was dying.
They had gone for the general who COM
manded the column, and it was he who
at this moment was leading over the ex-
piring one-the general himself. and be-
of the %gallantry, the daring, with
which Jocrisse had borne himself during
the hours Of the battle.
He was n hero, this boyish soldier,
fearless as q lion and fighting with the
courage Of q veteran of 90. No wonder
that his comrades watched him with ad-
miration and amazement, his chiefs as
well. And now, in dying, it was In the
place of another. The ball that struck
him had been intended for his captain;
In delivering him he had doomed him
self. They gathered about him in sad
and solemn silence. The pallor Of peath
was already upon Mauriac's face; his
eyes, however, were wide open, his lips
s~miling-a sorrowful smile that gavesto
his features a heartbreaking expression.
Nevertheless no seemed to 10 listening,
and the officer continued:
"Yes," said he, "Celestin Mauriac, in
the name of the president of the republic,
and by virtue of the power conferred
upon me, l make you chevalier of the
National Order of the Legion of Honorl''
and at the moment that he pronounced
the words the general placed the cross
upon the breast of the dying youth.
AS if IN electric shock had suddenly
terminated him, and with q strength of
which no one believed him capable,
Jocrisse lifted himself up on his pillow, a
wild flash of joy and indescribable pride
illuminating his face. Alasl 1t was u
Ill