The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-09-21

however, to the quick eyes of the
soldiers of the Imperial Guard, who,
with unquenchable fidelity, cry "Vive
PEmpereur |"
Hunger, defeat, the impending
presence of death itself cannot abate
their unconquerable and chivalrous
devotion.
Swiftly it passes onward to reach
the division under Ney some miles be-
fore, the form within taking but lit
tie note of the cheers of the retreating
but unbeaten soldiers.
But the quick eye of the colonel in
charge of the regiment follows it with
admiration and regret and love until
it disappears, and, following it, noti-
ces a curious movement in the hover
ing crowds of Cossacks in the distance,
who are putting themselvef in rapid
motion.
He divines the object.
''The Emperor is in danger. Sol.
diers! follow me-"
At the words the dropping and dis
pirited horsemen brighten up. The
old rush of courage is in their hearts.
The Emperor in danger! and French
soldiers near-and French sword
blades lying in their sheathesi
The wearied horses are quickly in
motion. Something of the returning
spirit of their riders seems to have
communicated itself to them, for they
trot swiftly over the frozen snow.
They go rapidly.
'Faster-faster- Follow me
follow me swiftly - cries the colonel,
as his eager eyes see the Cossacks con-
verging on point in the distance
through the now thickly-falling snow.
Falling thickly indeed is the snow
so thick that you cannot see your
horses head before you.
Swifter they go, however-stra1ght
as birds fight-over the noiseless
snow!
The exercise has warmed them /;
the sense of danger to the Emperor
and the prospect of conflict have
brought the old elan of battle and
victory into their hearts, and almost
before they knew it, they were crossing
sabres with the foe.
It was hot and fierce work while it
lasted. There was neither quarter
asked, given, nor taken. Around the
droschka in twenty minutes hundred
Russian Lancers and many French
men lay dead, while riderless horses
galloped across the plain.
But when it was over victory had
alighted once more on the French
arms.
The Emperor was standing beside
the snow carriage. All his escort had
been slain in the first rush of the Rus
slams, vnd he wins about to be swept
away himself as prisoner.
'That was we'll done. Your name,
sir?" said the Emperor, addressing the
colonel.
"Dunois, sire"
"What, he of the"
"The same, sire"
"Where did you get these?" point
ing to the epaulets.
"On the field of Borodino, sire"
"Well, General Dunois," said the
Emperor, 81 see 1 am not a bad ex
aminer. You shall attend me for
ward. Ney is some distance beyond,
is he not?"
"Some miles, sire"
every well. You have not got the
Cross yet?"
"No, sire"
every well, General" said Napo'
leon, with marked emphnsis on the
title, "you shall have mine. "
He took from his breast the gold
cross of the Legion of Honor-the
diamonds thereon sparkled in the
gloom of the snowstorm-and pinned
it to the colonel's breast.
'It can never lie over bravei
heart or one reader in the hour oi
danger, said the great conqueror as
he stepped once more into the droschka-
Forward goes the Emperor once
more; four score French officers and
soldiers dead behind him; forward al
ter him go the French regiment, al.
thoughts of hunger and hardship and
cold and suffering forgotten, until
finally they come up with Neys oil