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ter another； and taken the conceit out of four Austrian generals； one of them； an old man who had white hair； had been roasted like a rat in the straw before Mantua。 The kings were suing for mercy on their knees。 Peace had been won。 Could a mere mortal have done that？ No。 God helped him； that is certain。 He distributed himself about like the five loaves in the Gospel； commanded on the battlefield all day； and drew up his plans at night。 The sentries always saw him coming； he neither ate nor slept。 Therefore； recognizing these prodigies； the soldier adopts him for his father。 But； forward！
〃The other folk there in Paris； seeing all this； say among themselves：
〃 'Here is a pilgrim who appears to take his instructions from Heaven above； he is uncommonly likely to lay a hand on France。 We must let him loose on Asia or America； and that； perhaps； will keep him quiet。
〃The same thing was decreed for him as for Jesus Christ； for； as a matter of fact； they give him orders to go on duty down in Egypt。 See his resemblance to the Son of God！ That is not all； though。 He calls all his fire…eaters about him； all those into whom he had more particularly put the devil； and talks to them in this way：
〃 'My friends； for the time being they are giving us Egypt to stop our mouths。 But we will swallow down Egypt in a brace of shakes； just as we swallowed Italy； and private soldiers shall be princes； and shall have broad lands of their own。 Forward！'
〃 'Forward； lads！' cry the sergeants。
〃So we come to Toulon on the way to Egypt。 Whereupon the English put to sea with all their fleet。 But when we are on board； Napoleon says to us：
〃 'They will not see us： and it is right and proper that you should know henceforward that your general has a star in the sky that guides us and watches over us！'
〃So said； so done。 As we sailed over the sea we took Malta； by way of an orange to quench his thirst for victory； for he was a man who must always be doing something。 There we are in Egypt。 Well and good。 Different orders。 The Egyptians； look you； are men who； ever since the world has been the world； have been in the habit of having giants to reign over them； and armies like swarms of ants； because it is a country full of genii and crocodiles； where they have built up pyramids as big as our mountains； the fancy took them to stow their kings under the pyramids； so as to keep them fresh； a thing which mightily pleases them all round out there。 Whereupon； as we landed； the Little Corporal said to us：
〃 'My children； the country which you are about to conquer worships a lot of idols which you must respect； because the Frenchman ought to be on good terms with all the world； and fight people without giving annoyance。 Get it well into your heads to let everything alone at first； for we shall have it all by and by！ and forward！'
〃So far so good。 But all those people had heard a prophecy of Napoleon； under the name of Kebir Bonaberdis； a word which in our lingo means； 'The Sultan fires a shot；' and they feared him like the devil。 So the Grand Turk； Asia； and Africa have recourse to magic； and they send a demon against us； named the Mahdi； who it was thought had come down from heaven on a white charger which； like its master was bullet…proof； and the pair of them lived on the air of that part of the world。 There are people who have seen them； but for my part I cannot give you any certain informations about them。 They were the divinities of Arabia and of the Mamelukes who wished their troopers to believe that the Mahdi had the power of preventing them from dying in battle。 They gave out that he was an angel sent down to wage war on Napoleon； and to get back Solomon's seal； part of their paraphernalia which they pretended our general had stolen。 You will readily understand that we made them cry peccavi all the same。
〃Ah； just tell me now how they came to know about that compact of Napoleon's？ Was that natural？
〃They took it into their heads for certain that he commanded the genii； and that he went from place to place like a bird in the twinkling of an eye； and it is a fact that he was everywhere。 At length it came about that he carried off a queen of theirs。 She was the private property of a Mameluke； who； although he had several more of them； flatly refused to strike a bargain； though 'the other' offered all his treasures for her and diamonds as big as pigeon's eggs。 When things had come to that pass； they could not well be settled without a good deal of fighting； and there was fighting enough for everybody and no mistake about it。
〃Then we are drawn up before Alexandria； and again at Gizeh； and before the Pyramids。 We had to march over the sands and in the sun； people whose eyes dazzled used to see water that they could not drink and shade that made them fume。 But we made short work of the Mamelukes as usual； and everything goes down before the voice of Napoleon； who seizes Upper and Lower Egypt and Arabia； far and wide； till we came to the capitals of kingdoms which no longer existed； where there were thousands and thousands of statues of all the devils in creation； all done to the life； and another curious thing too； any quantity of lizards。 A confounded country where any one could have as many acres of land as he wished for as little as he pleased。
〃While he was busy inland； where he meant to carry out some wonderful ideas of his； the English burn his fleet for him in Aboukir Bay； for they never could do enough to annoy us。 But Napoleon； who was respected East and West； and called 'My Son' by the Pope； and 'My dear Father' by Mahomet's cousin； makes up his mind to have his revenge on England； and to take India in exchange for his fleet。 He set out to lead us into Asia； by way of the Red Sea； through a country where there were palaces for halting…places； and nothing but gold and diamonds to pay the troops with； when the Mahdi comes to an understanding with the Plague； and sends it among us to make a break in our victories。 Halt！ Then every man files off to that parade from which no one comes back on his two feet。 The dying soldier cannot take Acre； into which he forces an entrance three times with a warrior's impetuous enthusiasm； the Plague was too strong for us； there was not even time to say 'Your servant； sir！' to the Plague。 Every man was down with it。 Napoleon alone was as fresh as a rose； the whole army saw him drinking in the Plague without it doing him any harm whatever。
〃There now； my friends； was that natural； do you think？
〃The Mamelukes； knowing that we were all on the sick…list； want to stop our road； but it was no use trying that nonsense with Napoleon。 So he spoke to his familiars； who had tougher skins than the rest：
〃 'Go and clear the road for me。'
〃Junot； who was his devoted friend； and a first…class fighter； only takes a thousand men； and makes a clean sweep of the Pasha's army； which had the impudence to bar our way。 Thereupon back we came to Cairo； our headquarters； and now for another story。
〃Napoleon being out of the country； France allowed the people in Paris to worry the life out of her。 They kept back the soldiers' pay and all their linen and clothing； left them to starve； and expected them to lay down law to the universe； without taking any further trouble in the matter。 They were idiots of the kind that amuse themselves with chattering instead of setting themselves to knead the dough。 So our armies were defeated； France could not keep her frontiers； The Man was not there。 I say The Man； look you； because that was how they called him； but it was stuff and nonsense； for he had a star of his own and all his other peculiarities； it was the rest of us that were mere men。 He hears this history of France after his famous battle of Aboukir； where with a single division he routed the grand army of the Turks； twenty…five thousand strong； and jostled more than half of them into the sea； rrrah！ without losing more than three hundred of his own men。 That was his last thunder…clap in Egypt。 He said to himself； seeing that all was lost down there； 'I know that I am the saviour of France； and to France I must go。'
〃But you must clearly understand that the army did not know of his departure； for if they had