Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-11-26
THE LAST DRUMMER.

restink for little in tho suburbs Of
SmOrIoni.
Twt officers on horseback wrapped in
their floaks. with heads bent low, were
passing along the road.
"Ylu say, colonel, that there are
many French in the rear in spite Of the
butchiry at the bridgesl"
"Tlere are thousands-straggle lers Of
every torps lying in the snow unarmed. y
"Yl ia should have rallied them.
Il Iould not carry 10000 men in my
holstets. "
"1ihc. But you should have sounded
the al krm."
"TlIe alarm-for dead men !"
Thete was moment Of silence.
"Yl "a know that he will review the
Third tomorrow. Ney charged me to
inform you You will head the column. "
The colonel uttered formidable
laugh
"A review Of the Third corps
He burned toward the general, who
appeaf ted impassive. and his gayety at
once sbbsided.
"Y,bu are testing"
"Cd lionel Champeaux"
"Bj the sword Of Jehovah" cried
the c,llonel, there is but one emperor
who c kn review those men y
He lifted his arm in the darkness,
with D vague gesture toward heaven.
a review" he went on, but II
will bt battalion review. The Third
corps numbered 35, 900 infantrymen and
2, 100 favalrymen at the opening Of the
campaign. Ii had 10000, all told, on
quitting Moscow. Do you know how
many yet remain:"
He hid not wait for the response.
"Tl|ere remain 1870. say nothing Of
the he Eses They have been digested.
Coli |nel Champeaux-do you know
how n (any men myself have'"
H lw manyi"
"StEen-the remnant Of a fine regi.
ment bf grenadiers. "
The general shuddered. and his horre
made h movement.
"Hbw many wounded:"
"Si g."
"Oihcers!"
"Oil le and the sole effective lam he. "
And the colonel burst out laughing
Ii seen bed q good one. "
"v,|ry well" said the general "This
is the fourth Tomorrow at . O'Clock
the Third corps must be assembled
You u ust find these survivors.
The colonel interrupted violently:
Ia ok out for an army corps-in this
desertl
"B:| h." said the general "The en-
peror wishes it. Understand. Cham
peauxt the emperor y
And he plunged into the darkness.
Chaknpeaux, erect amidst the snow,
refiectt moment, snapped his jaws
togeth| |r and turned back toward the
plain.
Tile emperor
ThiI luminous word he passed again
and a,|ain mechanically before his I'M
aginatEon.
1.-THE emperor II it's the emperor
All thb same il it is he"-
The French army was encamped IN
the midst Of an immense circle OF wag-
ons and tethered hurses--that is 70 say,
in disbrder. Bands Of stragglers and
wound cd-the straying Of the former
and thf creeping pace Of the latter di-
rectedby chance-had assembled around
thousands Of fires. which they fed with
rotted planks, tops Of caissons. saddle
pads Ind broken wheels Everywhere
was shoreless sea Of phantoms, with
here a bd there looming in the midst Of
it MI mtserable shelter.
Frolh time to time the heavy. i'm.
menseI indefnable breadth Of the storm
swept by. and again terrific detonation
was hJard-a caisson Of shells explod-
ing.
Cha mpeaux, savage and irresolute,
made his way through the group OF
shadows, cursed by those whose despond-
ent reEeries he disturbed.
"A review-an imperial review
Tomorrow! These carrion have no
longer any uniform How are corps and
regim,nts TO be recognized? Their only
raimeiIt is wounds, saddle cloths. horse
blankets. Find the different battalions
if you camp
He ikrasped a shoulder at hazard.
"W bat regiment
The| Imam was stretched out in sleep.
He oplned one eye; then closed it heav-
lily.
Cha npeaux drew his saber little
way fi ON its scabbard, entered the edge
of the fire, the flames licking his tall
boots, and turned toward the men,
whose |blackened hands and arms were
extend led toward the Goals, dripping as
they tllawed They did not SO much as
look DIT him, but Champeaux was al
ready toaring ont the order of the en-
peror. Immediately, when this name
was pIbnounced, q few heads were lifted
the bldest-and 12 cavalrymen of the
Third eorps came and ranged themselves
behind the colonel
"Hs|ve you your horses?"
The soldiers began to laugh softly IN
the milnrer of young girls. =.
"Wbll, we will do without them, "
said the colonel march,"
He went on. He and his men boldly
entered the fire circles. Champeaux de.
livereh the emperor's orders, which, In
propoltion as the difficulties increased,
he IN hgnified by dint Of vociferation.
until It became sort of proclamation
TO the troops. This reminder of Napo-
leon brew 80 men from the bivouac
fires, ,bf whom eight were grenadiers.
"FIlll in" said the colonel
As he moved forward he stumbled
upon The recumbent forms Of men i'm
beddeh in the ice. Then all would bend
down and would loosen these stiffened
forms wrenching them from the ground
as Though they were SO many sticks OF
timbet. They planted them upright,
and Champeaux, with q sort of conges-
tive g kultation, brawled out his chant
"Blockheads! It'sfor the emperor
Theke words Strengthened them up a.
II Mrlrat himself had grabbed them BY
the sctuff Of tho neck, and they set forth
laughing. After four hours the effective
strength Of the Third corps reached 60
men.
m.l.S -ss.s~lx -.~-. ;xS~, hoc.vno