o capture him. Ney promised his King to bring
the fallen leader bound into his presence, and, determined to make his
promise good, set forth on the road to Marseilles.

It was a gray day in early Spring. The sky looked forbidding, and a
chill of winter was in the air. As the King's army moved forward they
descried in the distance a smaller band approaching. At its head rode
a familiar figure, the Little Corporal, with shoulders stooped, as
though bending toward his horse's mane. He gave no orders to his men
who marched forward uncertainly. As the distance narrowed down to a
matter of yards, Napoleon seemed for the first time to note the
presence of the opposing troops. He saw at a glance that many of the
men now confronting him had formerly followed him.

Dismounting, he walked rapidly toward them, tore open his great coat,
and offered his breast to their rifles.

"Who among you would fire upon his Emperor?" he cried.

Instantly the army, officers and men, lowered their weapons and tossed
their caps high in air.

"Vive l'Empereur!" they shouted; and placing him at their head, they
turned and marched back upon Paris.

IMPORTANT DATES IN NAPOLEON'S LIFE

1769. August 15. Napoleon Bonaparte born.
1779. Entered school at Brienne.
1784. Entered military school at Paris.
1786. Became junior lieutenant.
1791. Made lieutenant.
1792. Made captain.
1794. Made general of brigade for services against English
at Toulon.
1795. Cleared the streets of Paris with his artillery, and was
appointed to command of Army of Italy.
1796. Married Josephine de Beauharnais.
1797. Completed conquest of Italy.
1798. Egyptian campaign.
1799. Made First Consul of France.
1804. Crowned Emperor.
1807. Won Battle of Austerlitz.
1813. Russian campaign.
1814. Abdicated the throne, and was sent to Elba.
1815. Returned to France.
1815. Defeated at Waterloo, and sent to St. Helena.
1821. May 5. Died at St. Helena.

WELLINGTON

THE IRON DUKE

Of all the curious parallels of history, none is stranger than that of
Napoleon and Wellington, who were to meet as rivals on the fatal field
of Waterloo.

They were born in the same year, 1769, and in each case the exact date
is somewhat uncertain. Wellington in later life always celebrated the
first of May, but was not sure that it was his rightful birthday. Both
were born upon islands--the one in Corsi