“I shivered all down my back. It was worse than the Russians; very much worse.
“‘Take him away,’ said my colonel.
“The corporal put his hand on my shoulder and the guard closed in. ‘March!’ said the corporal.
“‘Stop!’ said the Emperor. ‘Private Labonne, before you are taken away and shot, tell me what you were doing in that battery.’
“‘Nothing, your Majesty.’
“‘Nothing? I thought that I heard something about guns being spiked. Did not you spike a gun, Private Labonne?’
“‘Yes, your Majesty.’
“‘Did not you spike two guns—and both of them after the gunners and the officer in command of the battery had run away?’
“‘Yes, your Majesty.’
“‘And why did you not run away, too, Private Labonne?’