d on the point of taking the squad in hand for the
scandal they were creating with their goose dinner, but thought better
of the matter, ashamed, probably, to show his hunger, and walked off,
holding his head very erect, as if he had seen nothing.

As for Lieutenant Rochas, who was also conscious of a terribly empty
sensation in his epigastric region, he put on a brave face and laughed
good-naturedly as he passed the thrice-lucky squad. His men adored him,
in the first place because he was at sword's points with the captain,
that little whipper-snapper from Saint-Cyr, and also because he had once
carried a musket like themselves. He was not always easy to get along
with, however, and there were times when they would have given a good
deal could they have cuffed him for his brutality.

Jean glanced inquiringly at his comrades, and their mute reply being
propitious, arose and beckoned to Rochas to follow him behind the tent.

"See here, Lieutenant, I hope you won't be offended, but if it is
agreeable to you--"

And he handed him half a loaf of bread and a wooden bowl in which there
were a second joint of the bird and six big mealy potatoes.

That night again the six men required no rocking; they digested their
dinner while sleeping the sleep of the just. They had reason to thank
the corporal for the scientific way in which he had set up their tent,
for they were not even conscious of a small hurricane that blew up about
two o'clock, accompanied by a sharp down-pour of rain; some of the tents
were blown down, and the men, wakened out of their sound slumber, were
drenched and had to scamper in the pitchy darkness, while theirs stood
firm and they were warm and dry, thanks to the ingenious device of the
trench.

Maurice awoke at daylight, and as they were not to march until eight
o'clock it occurred to him to walk out to the artillery camp on the hill
and say how do you do to his cousin Honore. His foot was less painful
after his good night's rest. His wonder and admiration were again
excited by the neatness and perfect order that prevailed throughout
the encampment, the six guns of a battery aligned with mathematical
precision and accompanied by their caissons, prolonges, forage-wagons,
and forges. A short way off, lined up to their rope, stood the horses,
whinnying impatiently and turning their muzzles to the rising sun. He
had no difficulty in finding Honore's tent, thanks to the regulation
which assigns to the men