nube, and accompanied the troops each day. In a word, every
expedient was practised which could hasten the movement of the army;
justifying the remark so often repeated among the soldiers at the time,
"Le Petit Caporal makes more use of our legs than our bayonets in this
campaign."

On the same evening we arrived came the news of the surprise of Vienna
by Murat. Never was there such joy as this announcement spread through
the army. The act itself was one of those daring feats which only such
as he could venture on, and indeed at first seemed so miraculous that
many refused to credit it. Prince Auersberg, to whom the great bridge of
the Danube was intrusted, had prepared everything for its destruction
in the event of attack. The whole line of woodwork was laid with
combustibles; trains were set, the matches burning; a strong battery of
twelve guns, posted to command the bridge, occupied the height on the
right bank, and the Austrian gunners lay, match in hand, beside their
pieces: but a word was needed, and the whole work was in a blaze.

Such was the state of matters when Sebastiani pushed through the
faubourg of the Leopoldstadt at the head of a strong cavalry detachment,
supported by some grenadiers of the Guard, and by Murat's orders,
concealed his force among the narrow streets which lead to the bridge
from the left bank of the Danube. This done, Lannes and Murat advanced
carelessly along the bridge, which, from the frequent passage of
couriers between the two headquarters, had become a species of
promenade, where the officers of either side met to converse on the
fortunes of the campaign. Dressed simply as officers of the staff, they
strolled along till they came actually beneath the Austrian battery; and
then entered into conversation with the Austrian officers, assuring them
that the armistice was signed, and peace already proclaimed between the
two countries.

The Austrians, trusting to their story, and much interested by what they
heard, descended from the mound, and joining them, proceeded to walk
backwards and forwards along the bridge, conversing on the probable
consequences of the treaty; when suddenly turning round by chance, as
they walked towards the right bank, they saw the head of a grenadier
column approaching at the quick step. The thought of treachery crossed
their minds; and one of them, rushing to the side of the bridge, called
out to the artillerymen to fire. A movement was seen in the battery,