pain on the subject of its cruelties. Sir Charles
Cotton despatched Captain Wormeley a second time to Cabrera with a
good many head of live cattle and a large supply of other
provisions.--Tr.

But he, in turn, committed arbitrary acts; there were those who curried
favor with him, and worked his will, and became his minions. In that
school of misery, where bitter minds dreamed only of vengeance, where
the sophistries hatched in such brains were laying up, inevitably, a
store of evil thoughts, Max became utterly demoralized. He listened to
the opinions of those who longed for fortune at any price, and did not
shrink from the results of criminal actions, provided they were done
without discovery. When peace was proclaimed, in April, 1814, he left
the island, depraved though still innocent. On his return to Issoudun
he found his father and mother dead. Like others who give way to their
passions and make life, as they call it, short and sweet, the Gilets
had died in the almshouse in the utmost poverty. Immediately after his
return, the news of Napoleon's landing at Cannes spread through France;
Max could do no better than go to Paris and ask for his rank as major
and for his cross. The marshal who was at that time minister of war
remembered the brave conduct of Captain Gilet in Portugal. He put him in
the Guard as captain, which gave him the grade of major in the infantry;
but he could not get him the cross. "The Emperor says that you will
know how to win it at the first chance," said the marshal. In fact, the
Emperor did put the brave captain on his list for decoration the evening
after the fight at Fleurus, where Gilet distinguished himself.

After the battle of Waterloo Max retreated to the Loire. At the time
of the disbandment, Marshal Feltre refused to recognize Max's grade as
major, or his claim to the cross. The soldier of Napoleon returned
to Issoudun in a state of exasperation that may well be conceived;
he declared that he would not serve without either rank or cross. The
war-office considered these conditions presumptuous in a young man of
twenty-five without a name, who might, if they were granted, become
a colonel at thirty. Max accordingly sent in his resignation. The
major--for among themselves Bonapartists recognized the grades obtained
in 1815--thus lost the pittance called half-pay which was allowed to the
officers of the army of the Loire. But all Issoudun was roused at the
sight of the brave youn