The herald., 1912-10-24
The Boy
Commander
By R. PEMBERTON SLADE


the troops he rode out alone to cast an
eve over the contour of the country be
tween him and his enemy. Ii was
raining. and Napoleon wore over his
uniform a wrap to keep off the water.
SO that no evidence of his rank was
visible A young lieutenant who came
from converging road rode up along
side the general and. since they were
going the same way. began to chat
with him.
THE roads are execrable," said the
lieutenant II don't think Bonaparte
will get US out of this for some time.
He can't get guns through the mud"
THE feasibility of roads depends
upon the energy of those who desire
to 60 over them" replied Napoleon
some say that in armies it depends
on the persistence of the general"
Perhaps you are right. The inspira
ton Of an army is derived from its
general"
DO you think this young Bonaparte
will inspire this army?"
THAT remains to be seen"
They say he's nothing but a boy
no older than you or me. Why did
the directory send such young chap
to command men, wonder? I've heard
Barros did it."
Indeed! Barros is leader in the di-
rectory, / believe"
MY father, who is in Paris. wrote
me that"
Did you father say why Barros sent
q young chap to command menT
Yes, but that's a secret"
Nothing is a secret that one person
has got hold Of"
Anyway. my father says it's a Sc
cret He got it from one who knows"
Come, what is this that you and
your father and the 'one who knows
are keeping so quiet?
"All l can say is that Barros gave
Bonaparte the command Of this army
on condition that he marry a certain
woman"
"That will do. see your secret Is
scandal. l have no use for that. What
else do you know about General Bona.
parte"
Nothing else. | understand he has
been doing some good work at Toulon,
though nothing that would entitle him
to the command of this army. II must
be CALLING to the generals who have
been so long commanders to be over
topped by one who has jumped almost
from the ranks. l understood that A.
said to one Of the others soon after
Bonaparte's arrival, This fellow is a
mere boy. but he's our MASTER"
did A. say thatT
II heard So"
This put Napoleon, whose brow had
been darkening while he pumped out
the scandal about himself, in a better
humor, and. his road, diverging from
that of his companion. he bid him good
morning politely and without any
acerbity in his manner The lieutenant
while riding beside his general had not
had much opportunity to inspect his
features. Now that Napoleon faced
him for a moment the latter got a
glance at the former.
THAT young fellow" unused the lieu
tenant as he logged on, "has strong
think to ask him even his rank. I've 9
mind to rejoin him and find out"
He turned and galloped after Napo
leon.
II say, l have been much pleased t.
meet you. l neglected to give you my
name. am Lieutenant Jardinier Of
the Eighty-seventh of the line | viii
be happy to see you in my tent il yor
are any time riding my way"
Thank you, but am very busy JUS
now. fear shall not have time"
"Oh, no subaltern can be busy
man. I'm not busy. Ride over some
day. have just received case Of win,
from home. Well have bottle"
"And |, who have Just arrived from
Paris. brought a full supply"
You have just come from ParisT"
yes"
Been on leaveT
mo; l have come to this army To-
the first time"
"Just received your commission"
Yes"
who is making the appointment
nowr'
You must excuse me from furthe
/. chat at present: must leave you"
! And. turning his horses head. Ma
1 poleon struck across a field.
A few days later the army marche,
past its new commander in review. A
Lieutenant Jardinier raised his swor,
In salute his face became white a
ashes. He recognized in the genera
in chief the boy who had been sent b.
Barros on condition that be marry
Certain woman" to command men. Ma
poleon recognized him. but not by tn
slightest change Of countenance did |
appear that he had done so. The lier
tenant gave himself up for lost Whe
after the review he returned to hi
tent he found there an order from hi
chief to report In person at his heat
quarters the next morning.
Napoleon never missed an opportr
nifty to attach any one to him. Some
times he worked through fear. some
times through cupidity and sometime
by making a friend. At the beginnin
Of his career he must needs choose th
last Of the three. He lectured the en-
prit roundly on repeating scanda
=