Only when the wagons and field-pieces, thanks to the energy of the gunners, had commenced moving again, the emperor left the gorge and returned to his bivouac. He took his supper hastily and thoughtfully; then he summoned all his generals and gave them their instructions for to-morrow’s battle as lucidly and calmly as ever.
“And now let us sleep, for we must be up and doing to-morrow morning at four o’clock!” said the emperor, dismissing his generals with a winning smile.
A few minutes later profound silence reigned all around; the emperor lay on his straw and slept. Roustan sat at some distance from him, and his dark eyes were fixed on his master with the expression of a faithful and vigilant St. Bernard’s dog. The flames of the bivouac-fire enveloped at times, when they rose higher, the whole form of the emperor in a strange halo, and when they sank down again the shades of the night shrouded it once more. Four sentinels were walking up and down in front of the emperor’s bivouac.
Morning was dawning; it was the morning of the 14th of October, 1806.
The Prussians were still asleep in their tents. But the French were awake, and the emperor was at their head.
At four o’clock, according to the orders Napoleon had given, the divisions that were to make the first attack were under arms.
The emperor on his white horse galloped up; an outburst of the most rapturous enthusiasm hailed his appearance.
“Long live our little corporal! Long live the emperor!” shouted thousands of voices.
The emperor raised his hat a little and thanked the soldiers with a smile which penetrated like a warm sunbeam into all hearts. He waved his right hand, commanding them to be silent, and then his powerful, sonorous voice resounded through the stillness of the autumnal morning.
“Soldiers,” he shouted in his usual imperious tone, “soldiers, the Prussian army is cut off, like that of General Mack a year ago at Ulm. That army will only fight to secure a retreat and to regain its communications. The French corps, which suffers itself to be defeated under such circumstances, disgraces itself. Fear not that celebrated cavalry; meet it in square and with the bayonet!”