Volume VIII Part 53 (2/2)

”But suddenly a cry arose of: 'The Prussians! the Prussians!'

”And all along the horizon I heard the great noise of this panic-stricken arenerated by these shots fired at this vagabond, had filled his very executioners with terror; and, without realizing that they were theinators of the scare, rushed away and disappeared in the darkness

”I reendarmes whom their duty had compelled to stay with me

”They lifted up the riddled piece of flesh, bruised and bleeding

”'He must be examined,' said I to them

”And I handed them a box of vestas which I had inbetween the two

”The gendar the body, called out:

”'Clothed in a blue blouse, a trousers, and a pair of shoes'

”The first hted a second The man went on, as he turned out his pockets:

”'A horn knife, check handkerchief, a snuff-box, a bit of packthread, a piece of bread'

”The secondhandled the corpse for a long time, said:

”'That is all'

”I said:

”'Strip hi near the skin'

”And, in order that the two soldiers ive theuished flash of the ar bundle of flesh still warh lifeless

”And suddenly one of them exclaimed:

”'Good God, General, it is a wonant sensation of pain that moved my heart I could not believe it, and I knelt down in the snow before this shapeless pulp of flesh to see for endarive my opinion on the matter But I did not knohat to think, what theory to adopt

”Then the brigadier slowly drawled out:

”'Perhaps she came to look for a son of hers in the artillery, whom she had not heard from'

”And the other chimed in: