diff options
Diffstat (limited to '23014-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 23014-h/23014-h.htm | 1084 |
1 files changed, 1084 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/23014-h/23014-h.htm b/23014-h/23014-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6faed2f --- /dev/null +++ b/23014-h/23014-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1084 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + 'A Soldier of the Empire', by Thomas Nelson Page + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +Project Gutenberg's "A Soldier Of The Empire", by Thomas Nelson Page + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: "A Soldier Of The Empire" + 1891 + +Author: Thomas Nelson Page + +Release Date: October 12, 2007 [EBook #23014] +Last Updated: January 9, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK "A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE" *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + "A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE." + </h1> + <h2> + By Thomas Nelson Page <br /> <br /> 1891 + </h2> + <p> + It was his greatest pride in life that he had been a soldier—a + soldier of the empire. (He was known simply as "The Soldier," and it is + probable that there was not a man or woman, and certain that there was not + a child in the Quarter who did not know him: the tall, erect old Sergeant + with his white, carefully waxed moustache, and his face seamed with two + sabre cuts. One of these cuts, all knew, had been received the summer day + when he had stood, a mere boy, in the hollow square at Waterloo, striving + to stay the fierce flood of the "men on the white horses"; the other, + tradition said, was of even more ancient date.) + </p> + <p> + Yes, they all knew him, and knew how when he was not over thirteen, just + the age of little Raoul the humpback, who was not as tall as Pauline, he + had received the cross which he always wore over his heart sewed in the + breast of his coat, from the hand of the emperor himself, for standing on + the hill at Wagram when his regiment broke, and beating the long-roll, + whilst he held the tattered colors resting in his arm, until the men + rallied and swept back the left wing of the enemy. This the children knew, + as their fathers and mothers and grandfathers and grandmothers before them + had known it, and rarely an evening passed that some of the gamins were + not to be found in the old man's kitchen, which was also his parlor, or + else on his little porch, listening with ever-new delight to the story of + his battles and of the emperor. They all knew as well as he the thrilling + part where the emperor dashed by (the old Sergeant always rose reverently + at the name, and the little audience also stood,—one or two nervous + younger ones sometimes bobbing up a little ahead of time, but sitting down + again in confusion under the contemptuous scowls and pluckings of the + rest),—where the emperor dashed by, and reined up to ask an officer + what regiment that was that had broken, and who was that drummer that had + been promoted to ensign;—they all knew how, on the grand review + afterwards, the Sergeant, beating his drum with one hand (while the other, + which had been broken by a bullet, was in a sling), had marched with his + company before the emperor, and had been recognized by him. They knew how + he had been called up by a staff-officer (whom the children imagined to be + a fine gentleman with a rich uniform, and a great shako like Marie's + uncle, the drum-major), and how the emperor had taken from his own breast + and with his own hand had given him the cross, which he had never from + that day removed from his heart, and had said, "I would make you a colonel + if I could spare you." + </p> + <p> + This was the story they liked best, though there were many others which + they frequently begged to be told—of march and siege and battle, of + victories over or escapes from red-coated Britishers and fierce German + lancers, and of how the mere presence of the emperor was worth fifty + thousand men, and how the soldiers knew that where he was no enemy could + withstand them. It all seemed to them very long ago, and the soldier of + the empire was the only man in the Quarter who was felt to be greater than + the rich nobles and fine officers who flashed along the great streets, or + glittered through the boulevards and parks outside. More than once when + Paris was stirred up, and the Quarter seemed on the eve of an outbreak, a + mounted orderly had galloped up to his door with a letter, requesting his + presence somewhere (it was whispered at the prefect's), and when he + returned, if he refused to speak of his visit the Quarter was satisfied; + it trusted him and knew that when he advised quiet it was for its good. He + loved France first, the Quarter next. Had he not been offered—? What + had he not been offered! The Quarter knew, or fancied it knew, which did + quite as well. At least, it knew how he always took sides with the Quarter + against oppression. It knew how he had gone up into the burning tenement + and brought the children down out of the garret just before the roof fell. + It knew how he had jumped into the river that winter when it was full of + ice, to save Raoul's little lame dog which had fallen into the water; it + knew how he had reported the gendarmes for arresting poor little Aimée + just for begging a man in the Place de L'Opéra for a franc for her old + grandmother, who was blind, and how he had her released instead of being + sent to ———. But what was the need of multiplying + instances! He was "the Sergeant," a soldier of the empire, and there was + not a dog in the Quarter which did not feel and look proud when it could + trot on the inside of the sidewalk by him. + </p> + <p> + Thus the old Sergeant came to be regarded as the conservator of order in + the Quarter, and was worth more in the way of keeping it quiet than all + the gendarmes that ever came inside its precincts. And thus the children + all knew him. + </p> + <p> + One story that the Sergeant sometimes told, the girls liked to hear, + though the boys did not, because it had nothing about war in it, and + Minette and Clarisse used to cry so when it was told, that the Sergeant + would stop and put his arms around them and pet them until they only + sobbed on his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + It was of how he had, when a lonely old man, met down in Lorraine his + little Camille, whose eyes were as blue as the sky, and her hand as white + as the flower from which she took her name, and her cheeks as pink as the + roses in the gardens of the Tuileries. He had loved her, and she, though + forty years his junior, had married him and had come here to live with + him; but the close walls of the city had not suited her, and she had pined + and languished before his eyes like a plucked lily, and, after she bore + him Pierre, had died in his arms, and left him lonelier than before. And + the old soldier always lowered his voice and paused a moment (Raoul said + he was saying a mass), and then he would add consolingly: "But she left a + soldier, and when I am gone, should France ever need one, Pierre will be + here." The boys did not fancy this story for the reasons given, and + besides, although they loved the Sergeant, they did not like Pierre. + Pierre was not popular in the Quarter,—except with the young girls + and a few special friends. The women said he was idle and vain like his + mother, who had been, they said, a silly lazy thing with little to boast + of but blue eyes and a white skin, of which she was too proud to endanger + it by work, and that she had married the Sergeant for his pension, and + would have ruined him if she had lived, and that Pierre was just like her. + </p> + <p> + The children knew nothing of the resemblance. They disliked Pierre because + he was cross and disagreeable to them, and however their older sisters + might admire his curling brown hair, his dark eyes, and delicate features, + which he had likewise inherited from his mother, they did not like him; + for he always scolded when he came home and found them there; and he had + several times ordered the whole lot out of the house; and once he had + slapped little Raoul, for which Jean Maison had beaten him. Of late, too, + when it drew near the hour for him to come home, the old Sergeant had two + or three times left out a part of his story, and had told them to run away + and come back in the morning, as Pierre liked to be quiet when he came + from his work—which Raoul said was gambling. + </p> + <p> + Thus it was that Pierre was not popular in the Quarter. + </p> + <p> + He was nineteen years old when war was declared. + </p> + <p> + They said Prussia was trying to rob France,—to steal Alsace and + Lorraine. All Paris was in an uproar. The Quarter, always ripe for any + excitement, shared in and enjoyed the general commotion. It struck off + from work. It was like the commune; at least, so people said. Pierre was + the loudest declaimer in the district. He got work in the armory. + </p> + <p> + Recruiting officers went in and out of the saloons and cafés, drinking + with the men, talking to the women, and stirring up as much fervor as + possible. It needed little to stir it. The Quarter was seething. Troops + were being mustered in, and the streets and parks were filled with the + tramp of regiments; and the roll of the drums, the call of the bugles, and + the cheers of the crowds as they marched by floated into the Quarter. + Brass bands were so common that although in the winter a couple of + strolling musicians had been sufficient to lose temporarily every child in + the Quarter, it now required a full band and a grenadier regiment, to + boot, to draw a tolerable representation. + </p> + <p> + Of all the residents of the Quarter, none took a deeper interest than the + soldier of the empire. He became at once an object of more than usual + attention. He had married in Lorraine, and could, of course, tell just how + long it would take to whip the Prussians. He thought a single battle would + decide it. It would if the emperor were there. His little court was always + full of inquirers, and the stories of the emperor were told to audiences + now of grandfathers and grandmothers. + </p> + <p> + Once or twice the gendarmes had sauntered down, thinking, from seeing the + crowd, that a fight was going on. They had stayed to hear of the emperor. + A hint was dropped by the soldier of the empire that perhaps France would + conquer Prussia, and then go on across to Moscow to settle an old score, + and that night it was circulated through the Quarter that the invasion of + Russia would follow the capture of Berlin. The emperor became more popular + than he had been since the <i>coup d'état</i>. Half the Quarter offered + its services. + </p> + <p> + The troops were being drilled night and day, and morning after morning the + soldier of the empire locked his door, buttoned his coat tightly around + him, and with a stately military air marched over to the park to see the + drill, where he remained until it was time for Pierre to have his supper. + </p> + <p> + The old Sergeant's acquaintance extended far beyond the Quarter. Indeed, + his name had been mentioned in the papers more than once, and his presence + was noted at the drill by those high in authority; so that he was often to + be seen surrounded by a group listening to his accounts of the emperor, or + showing what the <i>manuel</i> had been in his time. His air, always + soldierly, was now imposing, and many a visitor of distinction inquiring + who he might be, and learning that he was a soldier of the empire, sought + an introduction to him. Sometimes they told him that they could hardly + believe him so old, could hardly believe him much older than some of those + in the ranks, and although at first he used to declare he was like a rusty + flint-lock, too old and useless for service, their flattery soothed his + vanity, and after a while, instead of shaking his head and replying as he + did at first that France had no use for old men, he would smile doubtfully + and say that when they let Pierre go, maybe he would go too, "just to show + the children how they fought then." + </p> + <p> + The summer came. The war began in earnest. The troops were sent to the + front, the crowds shouting, "On to Berlin." Others were mustered in and + sent after them as fast as they were equipped. News of battle after battle + came; at first, of victory (so the papers said), full and satisfying, then + meagre and uncertain, and at last so scanty that only the wise ones knew + there had been a defeat. The Quarter was in a fever of patriotism. + </p> + <p> + Jean Maison and nearly all the young men had enlisted and gone, leaving + their sweethearts by turns waving their kerchiefs and wiping their eyes + with them. Pierre, however, still remained behind. He said he was working + for the Government. Raoul said he was not working at all; that he was + skulking. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the levy came. Pierre was conscripted. + </p> + <p> + That night the Sergeant enlisted in the same company. Before the week was + out, their regiment was equipped and dispatched to the front, for the news + came that the army was making no advance, and it was said that France + needed more men. Some shook their heads and said that was not what she + needed, that what she needed was better officers. A suggestion of this by + some of the recruits in the old Sergeant's presence drew from him the + rebuke that in his day "such a speech would have called out a corporal and + a file of grenadiers." + </p> + <p> + The day they were mustered in, the captain of the company sent for him and + bade him have the first sergeant's chevrons sewed on his sleeve. The order + had come from the colonel, some even said from the marshal. In the Quarter + it was said that it came from the emperor. The Sergeant suggested that + Pierre was the man for the place; but the captain simply repeated the + order. The Quarter approved the selection, and several fights occurred + among the children who had gotten up a company as to who should be the + sergeant. It was deemed more honorable than to be the captain. + </p> + <p> + The day the regiment left Paris, the Sergeant was ordered to report + several reliable men for special duty; he detailed Pierre among the + number. Pierre was sick, so sick that when the company started he would + have been left behind but for his father. The old soldier was too proud of + his son to allow him to miss the opportunity of fighting for France. + Pierre was the handsomest man in the regiment. + </p> + <p> + The new levies on arrival in the field went into camp, in and near some + villages and were drilled,—quite needlessly, Pierre and some of the + others declared. They were not accustomed to restraint, and they could not + see why they should be worked to death when they were lying in camp doing + nothing. But the soldier of the empire was a strict drill-master, and the + company was shortly the best-drilled one in the regiment. + </p> + <p> + Yet the army lay still: they were not marching on to Berlin. The sole + principle of the campaign seemed to be the massing together of as many + troops as possible. What they were to do no one appeared very clearly to + know. What they were doing all knew: they were doing nothing. The men, at + first burning for battle, became cold or lukewarm with waiting; + dissatisfaction crept in, and then murmurs: "Why did they not fight?" The + soldier of the empire himself was sorely puzzled. The art of war had + clearly changed since his day. The emperor would have picked the best + third of these troops and have been at the gates of the Prussian capital + in less time than they had spent camped with the enemy right before them. + Still, it was not for a soldier to question, and he reported for a week's + extra guard duty a man who ventured to complain in his presence that the + marshal knew as little as the men. Extra guard duty did no good. The army + was losing heart. + </p> + <p> + Thus it was for several weeks. But at last, one evening, it was apparent + that some change was at hand: the army stirred and shook itself as a great + animal moves and stretches, not knowing if it will awake or drop off to + sleep again. + </p> + <p> + During the night it became wide awake. It was high time. The Prussians + were almost on them. They had them in a trap. They held the higher grounds + and hemmed the French in. All night long the tents were being struck, and + the army was in commotion. No one knew just why it was. Some said they + were about to be attacked; some said they were surrounded. Uncertainty + gave place to excitement. At length they marched. + </p> + <p> + When day began to break, the army had been tumbled into line of battle, + and the regiment in which the old Sergeant and Pierre were was drawn up on + the edge of a gentleman's park outside of the villages. The line extended + beyond them farther than they could see, and large bodies of troops were + massed behind them, and were marching and countermarching in clouds of + dust. The rumor went along the ranks that they were in the advanced line, + and that the Germans were just the other side of the little plateau, which + they could dimly see in the gray light of the dawn. The men, having been + marching in the dark, were tired, and most of them lay down, when they + were halted, to rest. Some went to sleep; others, like Pierre, set to work + and with their bayonets dug little trenches and threw up a slight + earthwork before them, behind which they could lie; for the skirmishers + had been thrown out, looking vague and ghostly as they trotted forward in + the dim twilight, and they supposed that the battle would be fought right + there. By the time, however, that the trenches were dug, the line was + advanced, and the regiment was moved forward some distance, and was halted + just under a knoll along which ran a road. The Sergeant was the youngest + man in the company; the sound of battle had brought back all his fire. To + him numbers were nothing. He thought it now but a matter of a few hours, + and France would be at the gates of Berlin. He saw once more the field of + glory and heard again the shout of victory; Lorraine would be saved; he + beheld the tricolor floating over the capital of the enemies of France. + Perhaps, it would be planted there by Pierre. And he saw in his + imagination Pierre climbing at a stride from a private to a captain, a + colonel, a—! who could tell?—had not the <i>baton</i> been won + in a campaign? As to dreaming that a battle could bring any other result + than victory!—It was impossible! + </p> + <p> + "Where are you going?" shouted derisively the men of a regiment at rest, + to the Sergeant's command as they marched past. + </p> + <p> + "To Berlin," replied the Sergeant. + </p> + <p> + The reply evoked cheers, and that regiment that day stood its ground until + a fourth of its men fell. The old soldier's enthusiasm infected the new + recruits, who were pale and nervous under the strain of waiting. His eye + rested on Pierre, who was standing down near the other end of the company, + and the father's face beamed as he thought he saw there resolution and + impatience for the fight. Ha! France should ring with his name; the + Quarter should go wild with delight. + </p> + <p> + Just then the skirmishers ahead began to fire, and in a few moments it was + answered by a sullen note from the villages beyond the plain, and the + battle had begun. The dropping fire of the skirmish line increased and + merged into a rattle, and suddenly the thunder broke from a hill to their + right, and ran along the crest until the earth trembled under their feet. + Bullets began to whistle over their heads and clip the leaves of the trees + beyond them, and the long, pulsating scream of shells flying over them and + exploding in the park behind them made the faces of the men look gray in + the morning twilight. Waiting was worse than fighting. It told on the + young men. + </p> + <p> + In a little while a staff-officer galloped up to the colonel, who was + sitting on his horse in the road, quietly smoking a cigar, and a moment + later the whole line was in motion. They were wheeled to the right, and + marched under shelter of the knoll in the direction of the firing. As they + passed the turn of the road, they caught a glimpse of the hill ahead where + the artillery, enveloped in smoke, was thundering from an ever-thickening + cloud. A battery of eight guns galloped past them, and turning the curve + disappeared in a cloud of dust. To the new recruits it seemed as if the + whole battle was being fought right there. They could see nothing but + their own line, and only a part of that; smoke and dust hid everything + else; but the hill was plainly an important point, for they were being + pushed forward, and the firing on the rise ahead of them was terrific. + They were still partly protected by the ridge, but shells were screaming + over them, and the earth was rocking under their feet. More batteries came + thundering by,—the men clinging to the pieces and the drivers + lashing their horses furiously,—and disappearing into the smoke on + the hill, unlimbered and swelled the deafening roar; they passed men lying + on the ground dead or wounded, or were passed by others helping wounded + comrades to the rear. Several men in the company fell, some crying out or + groaning with pain, and two or three killed outright. + </p> + <p> + The men were dodging and twisting, with heads bent forward a little as if + in a pelting rain. Only the old Sergeant and some of the younger ones were + perfectly erect. + </p> + <p> + "Why don't you dodge the balls?" asked a recruit of the Sergeant. + </p> + <p> + "A soldier of the empire never dodges," was the proud reply. + </p> + <p> + Some change occurred on the hills; they could not see what. Just then the + order came down the line to advance at a double-quick and support the + batteries. They moved forward at a run and passed beyond the shelter of + the ridge. Instantly they were in the line of fire from the Prussian + batteries, whose white puffs of smoke were visible across the plain, and + bullets and shell tore wide spaces in their ranks. They could not see the + infantrymen, who were in pits, but the bullets hissed and whistled by + them. The men on both sides of Pierre were killed and fell forward on + their faces with a thud, one of them still clutching his musket. Pierre + would have stopped, but there was no time, the men in the rear pressed him + on. As they appeared in the smoke of the nearest battery, the artillerymen + broke into cheers at the welcome sight, and all down the line it was taken + up. All around were dead and dying men increasing in numbers momentarily. + No one had time to notice them. Some of them had blankets thrown over + them. The infantry, who were a little to the side of the batteries, were + ordered to lie down; most of them had already done so; even then they were + barely protected; shot and shell ploughed the ground around them as if it + had been a fallow field; men spoke to their comrades, and before receiving + a reply were shot dead at their sides. The wounded were more ghastly than + the dead; their faces growing suddenly deadly white from the shock as they + were struck. + </p> + <p> + The gunners lay in piles around their guns, and still the survivors worked + furiously in the dense heat and smoke, the sweat pouring down their + blackened faces. The fire was terrific. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly an officer galloped up, and spoke to the lieutenant of the + nearest battery. + </p> + <p> + "Where is the colonel?" + </p> + <p> + "Killed." + </p> + <p> + "Where is your captain?" + </p> + <p> + "Dead, there under the gun." + </p> + <p> + "Are you in command?" + </p> + <p> + "I suppose so." + </p> + <p> + "Well, hold this hill." + </p> + <p> + "How long?" + </p> + <p> + "Forever." And he galloped off. + </p> + <p> + His voice was heard clear and ringing in a sudden lull, and the old + Sergeant, clutching his musket, shouted: + </p> + <p> + "We will, forever." + </p> + <p> + There was a momentary lull. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the cry was: + </p> + <p> + "Here they are." + </p> + <p> + In an instant a dark line of men appeared coming up the slope. The guns + were trained down on them, but shot over their heads; they were double + shotted and trained lower, and belched forth canister. They fell in + swathes, yet still they came on at a run, hurrahing, until they were + almost up among the guns, and the gunners were leaving their pieces. The + old Sergeant's voice speaking to his men was as steady as if on parade, + and kept them down, and when the command was given to fire kneeling, they + rose as one man, and poured a volley into the Germans' faces which sent + them reeling back down the hill, leaving a broken line of dead and + struggling men on the deadly crest. Just then a brigade officer came + along. They heard him say, "That repulse may stop them." Then he gave some + order in an undertone to the lieutenant in command of the batteries, and + passed on. A moment later the fire from the Prussian batteries was heavier + than before; the guns were being knocked to pieces. A piece of shell + struck the Sergeant on the cheek, tearing away the flesh badly. He tore + the sleeve from his shirt and tied it around his head with perfect + unconcern. The fire of the Germans was still growing heavier; the smoke + was too dense to see a great deal, but they were concentrating or were + coming closer. The lieutenant came back for a moment and spoke to the + captain of the company, who, looking along the line, called the Sergeant, + and ordered him to go back down the hill to where the road turned behind + it, and tell General ——— to send them a support + instantly, as the batteries were knocked to pieces, and they could not + hold the hill much longer. The announcement was astonishing to the old + soldier; it had never occurred to him that as long as a man remained they + could not hold the hill, and he was half-way down the slope before he took + it in. He had brought his gun with him, and he clutched it convulsively as + if he could withstand alone the whole Prussian army. "He might have taken + a younger man to do his trotting," he muttered to himself as he stalked + along, not knowing that his wound had occasioned his selection. "Pierre—" + but, no, Pierre must stay where he would have the opportunity to + distinguish himself. + </p> + <p> + It was no holiday promenade that the old soldier was taking; for his path + lay right across the track swept by the German batteries, and the whole + distance was strewn with dead, killed as they had advanced in the morning. + But the old Sergeant got safely across. He found the General with one or + two members of his staff sitting on horseback in the road near the park + gate, receiving and answering dispatches. He delivered his message. + </p> + <p> + "Go back and tell him he <i>must</i> hold it," was the reply. "Upon it + depends the fate of the day; perhaps of France. Or wait, you are wounded; + I will send some one else; you go to the rear." And he gave the order to + one of his staff, who saluted and dashed off on his horse. "Hold it for + France," he called after him. + </p> + <p> + The words were heard perfectly clear even above the din of battle which + was steadily increasing all along the line, and they stirred the old + soldier like a trumpet. No rear for him! He turned and pushed back up the + hill at a run. The road had somewhat changed since he left, but he marked + it not; shot and shell were ploughing across his path more thickly, but he + did not heed them; in his ears rang the words—"For France." They + came like an echo from the past; it was the same cry he had heard at + Waterloo, when the soldiers of France that summer day had died for France + and the emperor, with a cheer on their lips. "For France": the words were + consecrated; the emperor himself had used them. He had heard him, and + would have died then; should he not die now for her! Was it not glorious + to die for France, and have men say that he had fought for her when a + babe, and had died for her when an old man! + </p> + <p> + With these thoughts was mingled the thought of Pierre—Pierre also + would die for France! They would save her or die together; and he pressed + his hand with a proud caress over the cross on his breast. It was the + emblem of glory. + </p> + <p> + He was almost back with his men now; he knew it by the roar, but the smoke + hid everything. Just then it shifted a little. As it did so, he saw a man + steal out of the dim line and start towards him at a run. He had on the + uniform of his regiment. His cap was pulled over his eyes, and he saw him + deliberately fling away his gun. He was skulking. All the blood boiled up + in the old soldier's veins. Desert!—not fight for France! Why did + not Pierre shoot him! Just then the coward passed close to him, and the + old man seized him with a grip of iron. The deserter, surprised, turned + his face; it was pallid with terror and shame; but no more so than his + captor's. It was Pierre. + </p> + <p> + "Pierre!" he gasped. "Good God! where are you going?" + </p> + <p> + "I am sick," faltered the other. + </p> + <p> + "Come back," said the father sternly. + </p> + <p> + "I cannot," was the terrified answer. + </p> + <p> + "It is for France, Pierre," pleaded the old soldier. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! I cannot," moaned the young man, pulling away. There was a pause—the + old man still holding on hesitatingly, then,—"Dastard!" he hissed, + flinging his son from him with indescribable scorn. + </p> + <p> + Pierre, free once more, was slinking off with averted face, when anew idea + seized his father, and his face grew grim as stone. Cocking his musket, he + flung it up, took careful and deliberate aim at his son's retreating + figure, and brought his finger slowly down upon the trigger. But, before + he could fire, a shell exploded directly in the line of his aim, and when + the smoke blew off, Pierre had disappeared. The Sergeant lowered his + piece, gazed curiously down the hill, and then hurried to the spot where + the shell had burst. A mangled form marked the place. The coward had in + the very act of flight met the death he dreaded. Pierre lay dead on his + face, shot in the back. The back of his head was shattered by a fragment + of shell. The countenance of the living man was more pallid than that of + the dead. No word escaped him, except that refrain, "For France, for + France," which he repeated mechanically. + </p> + <p> + Although this had occupied but a few minutes, momentous changes had taken + place on the ridge above. The sound of the battle had somewhat altered, + and with the roar of artillery were mingled now the continuous rattle of + the musketry and the shouts and cheers of the contending troops. The + fierce onslaught of the Prussians had broken the line somewhere beyond the + batteries, and the French were being borne back. Almost immediately the + slope was filled with retreating men hurrying back in the demoralization + of panic. All order was lost. It was a rout. The soldiers of his own + regiment began to rush by the spot where the old Sergeant stood above his + son's body. Recognizing him, some of his comrades seized his arm and + attempted to hurry him along; but with a fierce exclamation the old + soldier shook them off, and raising his voice so that he was heard even + above the tumult of the rout, he shouted, "Are ye all cowards? Rally for + France—For France——" + </p> + <p> + They tried to bear him along; the officers, they said, were dead; the + Prussians had captured the guns, and had broken the whole line. But it was + no use; still he shouted that rallying cry, For France, for France, "Vive + la France; Vive l'Empereur"; and steadied by the war-cry, and accustomed + to obey an officer, the men around him fell instinctively into something + like order, and for an instant the rout was arrested. The fight was + renewed over Pierre's dead body. As they had, however, truly said, the + Prussians were too strong for them. They had carried the line and were now + pouring down the hill by thousands in the ardor of hot pursuit, the line + on either side of the hill was swept away, and whilst the gallant little + band about the old soldier still stood and fought desperately, they were + soon surrounded. There was no thought of quarter; none was asked, none was + given. Cries, curses, cheers, shots, blows, were mingled together, and + clear above all rang the old soldier's war-cry, For France, for France, + "Vive la France, Vive l'Empereur." It was the refrain from an older and + bloodier field. He thought he was at Waterloo. + </p> + <p> + Mad with excitement, the men took up the cry, and fought like tigers; but + the issue could not be doubtful. + </p> + <p> + Man after man fell, shot or clubbed down, with the cry "For France" on his + lips, and his comrades, standing astride his body, fought with bayonets + and clubbed muskets till they too fell in turn. Almost the last one was + the old Sergeant. Wounded to death, and bleeding from numberless gashes, + he still fought, shouting his battle-cry, "For France," till his musket + was hurled spinning from his shattered hand, and staggering senseless + back, a dozen bayonets were driven into his breast, crushing out forever + the brave spirit of the soldier of the empire. + </p> + <p> + It was best, for France was lost. + </p> + <p> + A few hours later the Quarter was in mourning over the terrible defeat. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + That night a group of Prussian officers going over the field with lanterns + looking after their wounded, stopped near a spot remarkable even on that + bloody slope for the heaps of dead of both armies literally piled upon + each other. + </p> + <p> + "It was just here," said one, "that they got reinforcements and made that + splendid rally." + </p> + <p> + A second, looking at the body of an old French sergeant lying amidst heaps + of slain, with his face to the sky, said simply as he saw his scars: + </p> + <p> + "There died a brave soldier." + </p> + <p> + Another, older than the first, bending closer to count the bayonet wounds, + caught the gleam of something in the light of the lantern, and stooping to + examine a broken cross of the Legion on the dead man's breast, said + reverently: + </p> + <p> + "He was a <i>soldier of the empire</i>." + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's "A Soldier Of The Empire", by Thomas Nelson Page + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK "A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE" *** + +***** This file should be named 23014-h.htm or 23014-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/0/1/23014/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + </body> +</html> |