Year: 1860

In the year Of 1912, in the ninth regiment
of the line, (which formed part of the great
army that Napoleon lost in Russia,) there
was a little drummer-boy named Bilboquet
OF course that was not the name his God.
fathers and Godmothers had given him in
baptism, but it was the one by which he was
known throughout the regiment The sol.
diers, and especially the grown-up drummers,
and above all, the terrible drum-major, were
in the habit of teasing little Bilboquet, as boy
never had been teased before. The drum-ma-
jor used even to beat him across the shoulders
with the heavy cane which these military bead
les are in the habit Of swinging and twisting
at the head of the regiment At first little
Bilboquet used to cry, but then his comrades
only laughed at him, and the terrible drum.
major beat him all the more. Yet little Bill
boquet never did anything wrong--not in one
sense, that is to say, for in another, he never
did anything right He was neither lazy, nor
untidy nor greedy, nor mean, nor revengeful
though he certainly did owe grudge to the
drumfnajor, which he was resolved one day OIL
other to pay; but he always had his drum
slung little too much on one side, or got out
of step in marching, or stood in the wrong
place when the company was drawn up in line
or committed some mistake, which was natu.
raj enough on the part of the boy who had
just left his top and marbles, to join the great
est general of the age, but which was looked
upon by the drum-maj or and other rigid dis
ciphnarians, as quite objectionable.
The ninth of the line with Bilboquet at its
head-the drummers always march in front
was on the banks of the Dwina, and ON the
high road TO Moscow, when the general com
mandng the brigade of which this regiment
formed part, was ordered by the Emperor, tc
occupy position on the other side of an
enormous ravine.


| The ravine was defended by a battery O
six guns. These guns were Of large calibre
and were well served by the Russians
| care those anything like the popguns yor
used to play with at school, young BilboquetY 2
asked the magnificent but slightly bruta
drum-major, as he twisted his long moustach'
between his finger and thumb


The little drummer bit his lips for he fel
that the tall oppressor doubted his courage
but he did not utter word


| "Do you hear how the ground shakes ?
continued the giant "Ah it's lucky youi
still that the Cossacks have very excelen
habit of firing into the air.


But the Cossacks (the French call all Rus
|
Of their pieces and then the drum-major ant
his little pupil, saw whole files of soldier
knocked down like kittles-with this differ
ence that it would be impossible ever to max
them stand up again, LLt IE..


An aid-de-cdmp now galoped up to th'
colonel of the ninth, who was in front of III
regiment, close to where Bilboquet and tn,
drum-major were standing.


"Iake the battery with two hundred men,
were the concise orders


/ "Yes II its easy enough TO say take tn
battery with two hundred mel" muttered al
old sergeant, 'bnt should like to see twent
of them get there"


Il "Ihe Emperor is waiting" added the aid
de-canp, observing that the soldiers were no
oyer-pleased with the work they had befor
them.


j The captain OF Bilboquet's company was
lead the assault with two hundred voltguers.


"lf the Emperor is looking at u.s. we mus
be quick, said the old sergeant, as he fixe
his bayonet to his fre-lock


The captain noticed considerable hesitatio
in the ranks. Twice he had ordered Ii
drum-major TO take a couple of drummers, &
to the front and beat charge. The drum
major was evidently in no hurry. He WI
leaning on his long cane and shook his hea
from side to side as he examined the drur
/ mers without the slightest appearance Of e
thusiasm .ili NfiE.


In the meanwhile, Bilboquet set hstride Q


his little Crum, whistling marshal air betwee


his teeth and beating tattoo with his hnge


on the parchment


At length the captain lowered his brow al
= in voice Of thunder, roared out the order I,
( the third time. The gigantic drum.major ne


ertheless seemed inclined TO spend a few mi
: utes more in the selection of his drummer
when suddenly, young Bilboquet sprang u
fastening his drum TO his side, seized


drum-stieks eonyulsively, and passing close


his tyrant, looked at him from head TO foo


and exclaimed with an air oftriumph---


"Now, who's afraid of the pop-gunsT


The drum.major was about TO strike hin
but Bilboquet was at the head Of the two cor
, panies, beating the charge in furious styl
! The soldiers advanced Blboque, hurried o.
a and me men rushed after him towards n
: terrible battery,


The commander Of the fort had seen II


aid-de-camp gallop upt to the ninth regimen