Year: 1863

Line (which formed part Of the grand army
that Napoleon lost in Russia) there was q lit
tie drummer boy named Bilboqaet. OF course
that was not the name bis godfathe7s and god
mothers had given him at his baptism, but it
vas the one by which he was known through
out the regiment The soldiers, and especially
the grown up drummers and above all, the
terrible Drum Major were in the habit Of teaz-
ing little Bilboquet as boy never had been
teazed before The Drum Major used even to
beat him across the shoulders with the heavy
cane which those military beadles are iu the
habit of swinging and twirhng at the head of
the regiment. At first little Biboquet used
to cry; but then his comrades only laughed at
him, and the terrible Drum Major beat him all
the more. Yet Bilboquet never did anything
wrong-not in one sense, that is to say for in
another, be never did anything right He was
neither lazy or untidy, nor greedy, nor mean,
nor revengeful, though he certainly did owe a
grudge to the Drum Major, which he was re.
solved one day or other to pay but be always
had his drum slung little too much on one
side, or got out of step il marching, or stood
in the wrong place, when the regiment was
drawn up in line, or committed some mistake
which was natural enough on the part of boy
who had left bis top and his marbles to join
the greatest General of the age, but which was
looked upon by the drum major and other rigid
disciplnarians, as quite objectionable.


The 9th of the Line with Bilboquet at its
head, the drummers always march in front, was
Oh the banks of the Dwina, on the high road
to Moscow, when the General commanding the
brigade of which this regiment formed part
was ordered by the Emperor to occupy posi-
tion on the other side of an enormous ravne.


The ravine was defended by battery of six
guns. These guns were of large calibre, ard
were all well served by the Russians.


Are those anything like the popguns you
used to play with at school, young Bilboquet? :?
asked the magnificent but slightly brutal Drum
Major, as he twirled his long mOus;ache be
tween bis finger and thumb.


The little drummer boy bit his lips, for he
felt that his tall oppressor doubted his courage;
but he did not utter word.


Do you feel how the ground shakes?" con
tinued the giant. "Ah, its lucky your head is
not so high as mine and it's luckier still that
these Cossacks have very excellent habit of
firing into the air.


But the Cossacks THE French call all Rus
sian soldiers Cossacks), lowered the muzzles of
their pieces, and then the Drum Major and his
little pupil saw whole files of soldiers knocked
down like skittles; with this difference, that it
would be impossible to make them stand up
again.


An Aid de Camp now galoped up to the
Colonel of the 9th who was in front of the
regiment close to where Biboquet and the
Drum Major were standing.


Take the battery with two hundred men, i"
were the concise orders.


Yes, its easy enough to say, take the bat
terry with two hundred men, muttered an old
Sergeant, " but l should like to see twenty of
them get there"


The Emperor is waiting" added the Aid
de Camp, observing that the soldiers were not
over pleased with the work they had before
them.


The captain of Baboquet's company was to
lead the assault with two hundred Voltigeurs.


"If the Emperor is looking at US we must
be quick, said the old Sergeant, as he fixed
his bayonet to bis frelock.


The captain noticed considerable hesitation
in the ranks. Twice he had ordered the drum
major to take couple of drummers go to the
front, and beat the charge. The drum major
was evidently in no hurry. He was leaning Oh
his long cane, and shook his head from side to
side as be examined the drummers, without
the slightest appearance OF enthusiasm.


In the meanwhile Bilboquet sat astride his
little drum, whistling martial air between his
teeth and beating tattoo with bis fingers up
on the parchment.


At length the captain lowered his brows
and, in a voice Of thunder, roared ont the order
for the third time.


The gigantic drum major nevertheless, seem
ed inclined to spend few minutes more in the
selection of his drummers, when suddenly Bill
boquet sprang up, fastened his drum TO his
side. seized his drumsticks convulsively, and
passing close TO his tyrant. looked at him from
head TO foot, and exclaimed with an air of tri-
umph:


Now, who's afraid of the popguns ,"


The drum major was about to strike him, but
Bilboquet was already at the head Of the two
beating the charge in furious
style The soldiers advanced. Blboquet hur-
ried on and the men rushed after him toward
the terrible battery.


The commander of the fort had seen the aid
de-camp gallop up to the Ninth Regiment, aad
had understood that his battery was to be 81