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there is a woman in the case； a pretty woman。 Remember what Joan
of Arc made us do formerly！ Come； I'd make a bet that if a pretty
woman had taken command of the army on the eve of Sedan； when
Marshal MacMahon was wounded； we should have broken through the
Prussian lines； by Jove！ and have had a drink out of their guns。
〃It was not Trochu； but Saint Genevieve； who was required in
Paris； and I remember a little anecdote of the war which proves
that we are capable of everything in the presence of a woman。
〃I was a captain； a simple captain； at the time； and was in
command of a detachment of scouts who were retreating through a
district swarming with Prussians。 We were surrounded； pursued；
tired out； and half dead with fatigue and hunger； and by the next
day we had to reach Bar…sur…Tain； otherwise we should be done
for； cut off from the main body and killed。 I do not know how we
managed to escape so far。 However； we had ten leagues to go
during the night； ten leagues through the snow； and upon empty
stomachs。 I thought to myself：
〃 'It is all over； my poor fellows will never be able to do it。'
〃We had eaten nothing since the day before； and the whole day
long we remained hidden in a barn； huddled close together； so as
not to feel the cold so much； we did not venture to speak or even
move； and we slept by fits and starts； like you sleep when you
are worn out with fatigue。
〃It was dark by five o'clock； that wan darkness caused by the
snow； and I shook up my men。 Some of them would not get up； they
were almost incapable of moving or of standing upright； and their
joints were stiff from the cold and want of motion。
〃In front of us there was a large expanse of flat； bare country；
the snow was still falling like a curtain； in large； white
flakes； which concealed everything under a heavy； thick； frozen
mantle； a mattress of ice。 You would have thought that it was the
end of things。
〃 'Come； my lads； let us start。'
〃They looked at the thick； white dust which was coming down； and
seemed to think： 'We have had enough of this； we may just as well
die here！' Then I took out my revolver； and said：
〃 'I will shoot the first man who flinches。' And so they set off；
but very slowly； like men whose legs were of very little use to
them。 I sent four of them three hundred yards ahead； to scout；
and the others followed pellmell； walking at random and without
any order。 I put the strongest in the rear； with orders to
quicken the pace of the sluggards with the points of their
bayonets in the back。
〃The snow seemed as if it were going to bury us alive； it
powdered our kepis＇1＇ and cloaks without melting； and made
phantoms of us； ghosts of worn…out soldiers who were very tired；
and I said to myself： 'We shall never get out of this； except by
a miracle。'
＇1＇ Forage…caps。
〃Sometimes we had to stop for a few minutes； on account of those
who could not follow us； hearing nothing but the falling snow；
that vague； almost indiscernible sound which the flakes make； as
they come down together。 Some of the men shook themselves； but
others did not move； and so I gave the order to set off again；
they shouldered their rifles； and with weary feet we set out
again； when suddenly the scouts fell back。 Something had alarmed
them； they had heard voices in front of them； and so I sent six
men and a sergeant on ahead； and waited。
〃All at once a shrill cry； a woman's cry； pierced through the
heavy silence of the snow； and in a few minutes they brought back
two prisoners； an old man and a girl； whom I questioned in a low
voice。 They were escaping from the Prussians； who had occupied
their house during the evening； and who had got drunk。 The father
had become alarmed on his daughter's account； and； without even
telling their servants； they had made their escape into the
darkness。 I saw immediately that they belonged to the upper
classes； and； as I should have done in any case； I invited them
to come with us。 So we started off together； and as the old man
knew the road； he acted as our guide。
〃It had ceased snowing； the stars appeared； and the cold became
intense。 The girl； who was leaning on her father's arm； walked
wearily and with jerks； and several times she murmured：
〃 'I have no feeling at all in my feet。' I suffered more than she
did； I believe； to see that poor little woman dragging herself
like that through the snow。 But suddenly she stopped； and said：
〃 'Father； I am so tired that I cannot go any further。'
〃The old man wanted to carry her； but he could not even lift her
up； and she fell on the ground with a deep sigh。 We all came
round her； and as for me； I stamped on the ground； not knowing
what to do； quite unable to make up my mind to abandon that man
and girl like that。 Suddenly one of the soldiers； a Parisian；
whom they had nicknamed 'Pratique；' said：
〃 'Come； comrades； we must carry the young lady； otherwise we
shall not show ourselves Frenchmen； confound it！'
〃I really believe that I swore with pleasure； and said： 'That is
very good of you； my children； I will take my share of the
burden。'
〃We could indistinctly see the trees of a little wood on the
left； through the darkness。 Several men went into it； and soon
came back with a bundle of branches twisted into a litter。
〃 'Who will lend his cloak？ It is for a pretty girl； comrades；'
Pratique said； and ten cloaks were thrown to him。 In a moment；
the girl was lying； warm and comfortable； among them； and was
raised upon six shoulders。 I placed myself at their head； on the
right； and very pleased I was with my charge。
〃We started off much more briskly； as if we had been having a
drink of wine； and I even heard a few jokes。 A woman is quite
enough to electrify Frenchmen； you see。 The soldiers； who were
reanimated and warm； had almost reformed their ranks； and an old
franc…tireur＇2＇ who was following the litter； waiting for his
turn to replace the first of his comrades who might give in； said
to one of his neighbors； loud enough for me to hear：
＇2＇ Volunteers； in the Franco…German war of 1870…71； of whom the
Germans often made short work when caught。
〃 'I am not a young man； now； but by Jove； there is nothing like
a woman to make you feel queer from head to foot！'
〃We went on； almost without stopping； until three o'clock in the
morning； when suddenly our scouts fell back again。 Soon the whole
detachment showed nothing but a vague shadow on the ground； as
the men lay on the snow； and I gave my orders in a low voice； and
heard the harsh； metallic sound of the cocking of rifles。 There；
in the middle of the plain； some strange object was moving about。
It might have been taken for some enormous animal running about；
which uncoiled itself like a serpent； or came together into a
coil； then suddenly went quickly to the right or left； stopped；
and then went on again。 But presently the wandering shape came
near； and I saw a dozen lancers； one behind the other； who were
trying to find their way； which they had lost。
〃By this time they were so near that I could hear the panting of
the horses； the clink of the swords； and the creaking of the
saddles； and so cried： 'F