"'Captain,' said I, 'you must not give way.' Lifting him in my arms, I tried to put him on his feet. He leaned on me, and attempted to walk, but in vain; he fell again, dragging me with him.
"'Jobin,' he said; 'all is over. Leave me here, and rejoin your company as quickly as possible. One word before you go: at Voreppe, near Grenoble, lives a good woman, eighty-two years of age, my—my mother. Go and see her, embrace her for me, and tell her that—that—tell her what you will, but give her this purse and my cross. It is all I have! Now go.'
"'Is that all, captain?'
"'That is all. God bless you! Make haste. Adieu!' My friends, I do not know how it was, but I felt two tears roll down my cheeks.
"'No, captain,' I cried, 'I will not leave you; either you come with me, or I will remain with you.'
"'I forbid you to remain.'
"'You may put me under arrest, then, if you like, but at present you must let me do as I please.'
"'You are an insolent fellow.'
"'Very good, captain, but you must come with me.'
"He bit his lips with rage, but said no more.