"A head was put out of the litter:
"'What is the matter?' she asked; 'you are fighting?'"
"'It is nothing, Mademoiselle,' I replied; 'we have got rid of a dozen Prussians!'"
"'Poor fellows!' she said. But as she was cold, she quickly disappeared beneath the cloaks again, and we started off once more. We marched on for a long time, and at last the sky began to grow pale. The snow became quite clear, luminous and bright, and a rosy tint appeared in the East, and suddenly a voice in the distance cried:
"'Who goes there?'"
"The whole detachment halted, and I advanced to say who we were. We had reached the French lines, and as my men defiled before the outpost, a commandant on horseback, whom I had informed of what had taken place, asked in a sonorous voice, as he saw the litter pass him: 'What have you there?'"
"And immediately, a small head, covered with light hair, appeared, disheveled and smiling, and replied:"
"'It is I, Monsieur.'"
"At this, the men raised a hearty laugh, and we felt quite light-hearted, while Pratique, who was walking by the side of the litter, waved his kepi, and shouted:"
"'Vive la France!' And I felt really moved. I do not know why, except that I thought it a pretty and gallant thing to say."