With many such traits of the service did mademoiselle beguile the time,—now telling of the pleasant life of the cantonment; now of the wild scenes of the battlefield. Young as she was, she had seen much of both, and learned around the bivouac fires the old traditions of the Revolutionary armies, and the brave deeds of the first veterans of France. In such narratives, too, her own enthusiastic nature burst forth in all its vehemence: her eyes would sparkle, and her words come rapidly, as she described some fierce attack or headlong charge; and it was impossible to listen without catching up a portion of her ardor, so wrapped up did she herself become in the excitement of her story.
Thus one evening, while describing the passage of the Adige, after detailing most circumstantially the position and strength of the attacking columns, and describing how each successive advance was repulsed by the murderous fire of the artillery, she proceeded to relate the plan of a flank movement, effected by some light infantry regiment thrown across the river a considerable distance up the stream.
“We came along,” said she, “under the shade of some willows, and at last reached the ford. The leading companies halted; two officers sounded the river, and found that it was passable. I was close by at the time. It was the Colonel Lajolais who commanded the brigade, and he asked me for a goutte.
“'It may be the last you 'll ever give me, Minette,' said he; 'I don't expect to see you again.'
“'Are you going to remain at this side, Colonel?' said I.
“'No, parbleu!' said he, 'not when the Twenty-second cross to the other.'
“'Neither am I, then,' said I; 'my place is with the head of the battalion.'
“Well, well; they all pressed me to stay back; they said a thousand kind things too. But that only decided me the more to go on; and as the signal rocket was fired, the word was given, and on we went. For the first eight or ten paces it was mere wading; but suddenly a grenadier in the front called out, Gare! lift your muskets; it's deep here.' And so it was. With one plunge down I went; but they seized me by the arms and carried me along, and some way or other we reached the bank. Morbleu! I felt half drowned. But there was little time to think over these things, for scarcely had the column formed when the cry of 'Cavalry!' was given, and down came the lancers with a swoop. But we were all ready. The flank companies fell back, and formed in square, and a tremendous volley sent them off faster than they came.
“'Now, then, push forward double quick!' said the old colonel; 'the pas de charge!, Alas! the poor little drummer was lying dead at his feet. The thought suddenly seized me; I sprang forward, unstrung his drum, threw the strap over my shoulder, and beat the pas de charge! A cheer ran along the whole battalion, and on we went. Mort de ceil! I was never so near the fire before. There was the enemy, scarce two hundred yards off,—two great columns, with artillery between,—waiting for us. 'Keep her back! keep back, Minette, brave fille!' I heard no more; a shot came whizzing past, and struck me here.”
She pulled down her dress as she spoke, and disclosed the scar of a bullet's track on her white shoulder; then, as if suddenly recollecting, she blushed deeply, drew her kerchief closely around her, and muttered in a low voice,—