ant tale so modestly set forth.

"With my right arm I swam as best I could. There was a horse nearby
which had lost his rider. I grasped the saddle horn. Somehow I
managed to reach the shore with the Eagle. I clambered up the bank,
slippery with water and with blood, mademoiselle. The Russians were
firing at us from the town. A bullet struck me."

"Where?"

"I am ashamed to say, in the back," said the soldier, flushing at the
recollection. "But if I had stood up and faced them the Eagle would
have been lost."

The Russian laughed scornfully.

"In the back," he cried meaningly, "a fine place for a soldier!"

"Shame," said the Countess quickly.

"If I had faced them," returned the French soldier simply, "I should
have been shot in the breast and killed, perhaps, but I should have
lost the Eagle. It was my business to save the Eagle at all hazards,
even though I should be branded with cowardice for having done so," he
went on hotly.

"I understand," said the Countess. "I, who have known you from a
child, know that you are a brave man, monsieur. Proceed."

"I staggered up the bank. Fortune had brought me to the place where
the Emperor stood watching. There were staff officers about him. Oh,
very few. The slaughter had been dreadful, the confusion was
inconceivable, mademoiselle. They made way for me. How well I
remember the whole scene," continued the young Frenchman. "The Emperor
stood a little apart, his face pale, his head bent. He was frowning
and whistling."

"Whistling! Damme," burst out Sir Gervaise Yeovil, deeply interested
in the unpretentious account of so heroic a deed. "What was he
whistling?"

"_Malbrook-s'en-va-t'en-guerre_."

"By gad," roared the Englishman. "Marlborough beat you. Just wait
until we come in touch with you."

"There was no Napoleon there," observed Marteau simply, as if that were
adequate answer.

"Napoleon or no Napoleon, wait until Wellington----"

"We shall wait."

"Pardon, Monsieur Yeovil," said the Countess, "will you not allow
Monsieur Marteau to proceed?"

"There is little more to tell, mademoiselle. The Emperor saw me come
up. I was wet, my arm hung useless, the bullet had gone through my
body. There was blood on my uniform coat. I thought that I was dying,
that my end was at hand. My strength was ebbing. I concentrated all
my will and power. Holding the Eagle, I lifted it up in salute. 'What
have we here?' cried the Emperor, fixing