23 27 ne battait plus que d'une aile: 'was almost dead', lit 'could no longer flap more than one wing' (like a wounded bird), cf. note to 4 23.
24 1 mouches cantharides: 'Spanish flies' These insects, which are found in southern Europe, are used (crushed) as the chief element in blistering plasters--dessus adverb, 'on top of it', cf. note to 1 6.
24 3 Il fallait voir: 'you should have seen', cf. 69 4.
24 4 se l'arrachait: for se cf. note to 7 2 Se is dative, cf. 4 24.
24 6 se faire expliquer: cf. note to 7 25.
24 7 comment on s'y prenait: 'how you go at it' On y cf. note to 2 29.
24 8 à combien de pas: cf. note to 18 25.
24 11 Jules Gerard (1817-1864) called le Tueur de lions, an officer of spahis (cf. note to 43 8) and celebrated lion hunter.