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the　position　of　the　enemy；　he　said；　angrily：　〃Those　arrogant　fellows
believe　they　can　swallow　us　without　further　ceremony！〃

The　old　soldier　looked　smilingly　at　the　emperor　with　his　shrewd
eyes；　and　quietly　continued　filling　his　pipe　with　the　small　finger
of　his　right　hand。

〃Oh；　oh；　they　cannot　swallow　us　so　fast！　We　shall　lie　down；　your
majesty！〃

The　emperor　laughed　loudly；　and　his　face　became　radiant。　〃Yes；〃　he
said；　〃you　are　right；　we　will　lie　down　as　soon　as　they　try　to
swallow　us；　and　then　we　will　choke　them！〃

He　nodded　to　the　soldier；　and　vaulting　into　the　saddle　he　returned
to　headquarters。　Night　was　coming　on　already；　and　looking　up　to　the
moonlighted　sky；　the　emperor　murmured：　〃Only　one　more　day；　and　then
I　shall　defeat　them！〃

And　fate　gave　him　that　day。　It　is　true；　the　combined　forces　of　the
Austrians　and　Russians　approached　his　positions；　but　did　not　attack
them。　They　drew　up　in　a　long　line　directly　in　front　of　the　French
camp；　and　so　close　to　it　that　their　movements　could　be　plainly　seen。

Napoleon　was　on　horseback　all　day；　he　inspected　every　regiment　of
his　whole　army；　his　eyes　beamed　with　enthusiasm；　and　a　wondrous
smile　played　on　his　lips。

The　Bohemian　corps　had　arrived：　the　delay　of　three　days　had　borne
fruits；　he　now　felt　strong　enough　to　defeat　his　enemies。　He　spoke　in
a　merry　tone　to　the　soldiers　here　and　there；　and　they　replied　to　him
with　enthusiastic　shouts。　He　inspected　the　artillery　parks　and　light
batteries　with　searching　glances；　and　then　gave　the　necessary
instructions　to　the　officers　and　gunners。

Only　after　inspecting　every　thing　in　person；　after　visiting　the
ambulances　and　wagons　for　the　wounded；　he　returned　to　his　bivouac　in
order　to　take　a　frugal　meal。　He　then　summoned　all　his　marshals　and
generals；　and　spoke　to　them　about　every　thing　they　would　have　to　do
on　the　following　day；　and　about　what　the　enemy　might　do。　To　each　of
them　he　gave　his　instructions　and　assigned　his　position；　and　already
on　the　evening　of　this　day　he　issued　to　his　soldiers　a　proclamation；
admonishing　them　to　perform　deeds　of　heroism　on　the　following　day。

〃Soldiers；〃　he　said　to　them　in　his　proclamation；　〃the　Russian　army
appears　before　you　to　average　the　Austrian　defeat　of　Ulm。　They　are
the　same　battalions　that　you　beat　at　Holabrunn；　and；　that　you　have
since　been　constantly　pursuing　to　this　spot。〃

〃The　positions　which　we　occupy　are　formidable；　and　while　they　are
marching　to　turn　my　right；　they　will　present　their　flank　to　me。〃

〃Soldiers；　I　shall　myself　direct　your　battalions。　I　shall　keep　out
of　the　fire；　if；　with　your　usual　bravery；　you　throw　disorder　and
confusion　into　the　enemy's　ranks。　But；　if　the　victory　should　be　for
a　moment　uncertain；　you　will　see　your　emperor　the　foremost　to　expose
himself　to　danger。　For　victory　must　not　hang　doubtful　on　this　day；
most　particularly；　when　the　honor　of　the　French　infantry；　which　so
deeply　concerns　the　honor　of　the　whole　nation；　is　at　stake。〃

〃Let　not　the　ranks　be　thinned　upon　pretext　of　carrying　away　the
wounded；　and　let　every　one　be　thoroughly　impressed　with　this
thought；　that　it　behooves　us　to　conquer　these　hirelings　of　England；
who　are　animated　with　such　bitter　hatred　against　our　nation。〃

〃This　victory　will　put　an　end　to　the　campaign；　and　we　shall　then　be
able　to　return　to　our　winter　quarters；　where　we　shall　be　joined　by
the　new　armies　which　are　forming　in　France；　and　then　the　peace　which
I　shall　make　will　be　worthy　of　my　people；　of　you；　and　of　myself。〃

The　soldiers　received　this　proclamation　with　jubilant　shouts；　and
when　Napoleon；　after　night　had　set　in；　rode　once　more　through　the
camp；　the　first　soldiers　who　perceived　him；　eager　to　light　him　on
his　way；　picked　up　the　straw　of　their　bivouac　and　made　it　into
torches；　which　they　placed　blazing　on　the　tops　of　their　muskets。　In
a　few　minutes　this　example　was　followed　by　the　whole　army；　and　along
the　vast　front　of　the　French　position　was　displayed　this　singular
illumination。　The　soldiers　accompanied　the　steps　of　Napoleon　with
shouts　of　〃Vive　l'Empereur！〃　promising　to　prove　on　the　morrow　that
they　were　worthy　of　him　and　of　themselves。　Enthusiasm　pervaded　all
the　ranks。　They　went　as　men　ought　to　go　into　danger；　with　hearts
full　of　content　and　confidence。

Napoleon　retired；　to　oblige　his　soldiers；　to　take　some　rest。　With　a
feeling　of　the　most　unbounded　satisfaction；　he　threw　himself　on　the
straw　in　his　tent；　and　smilingly　rejecting　the　services　of　his
valets　de　chambre；　Roustan　and　Constant；　who　implored　him　to　permit
them　to　wrap　him　in　warmer　clothes；　he　said：

〃Kindle　a　good　fire　and　let　me　sleep　as　a　soldier　who　has　a　hot　day
before　him　on　the　morrow　ought　to　sleep。〃

He　pressed　his　head　into　the　straw　and　fell　asleep；　and　he　was　still
sleeping　when　the　marshals　and　generals　at　daybreak　came　to　the
emperor's　tent　to　awaken　him　as　he　had　ordered　them　to　do。

They　surrounded　the　open　tent　in　respectful　silence　and　looked　at
the　chieftain　who　was　to　fight　a　great　battle　to…day；　and　who　was
now　lying　on　the　straw　with　a　calm；　serene　face；　and　with　the　gentle
slumber　of　a　child。

But　they　durst　not　let　him　sleep　any　longer；　for　the　emperor；　who
had　regulated　every　movement　of　the　present　day　by　the　hour　and
minute；　would　have　been　very　angry　if　any　delay　had　occurred。
General　Savary；　therefore；　approached　the　sleeping　emperor　and　bent
over　him。　Then　his　loud　and　earnest　voice　was　heard　to　say：　〃Sire；
the　fixed　hour　has　come。〃

Napoleon；　opened　his　eyes　and　jumped　up。　Sleep　had　suddenly　fallen
from　him　like　a　thin　veil；　as　soon　as　he　rose　to　his　feet　he　was
once　more　the　great　emperor　and　general。　He　cast　a　long；　searching
look　on　the　gray；　moist；　and　wintry　horizon；　and　the　dense　mist
which　shrouded　every　thing　at　a　distance　of　ten　paces　caused　his
eyes　to　sparkle　with　delight；

〃That　mist　is　an　excellent　ally　of　ours；　for　it　will　conceal　our
movements　from　the　enemy。　Issue　your　orders；　gentlemen；　let　the
whole　army　take　up　arms　as　silently　as　possible。〃

The　emperor　then　mounted　on　horseback　and　rode　through　the　camp　to
see　the　infantry　and　cavalry　form　in　column。

It　was　now　seven　o'clock　in　the　morning。　The　mist　began　to　rise；　the
first　feeble　rays　of　the　December　sun　pierced　it　and　commenced
gradually　illuminating　the　landscape。

The　emperor　placed　himself　on　a　small　knoll；　where　his　eye　embraced
the　whole　field　of　battle；　his　marshals　were　on　horseback　at　his
side；　anxiously　awaiting　his　order　to　commence　the　combat。

Profound　silence　reigned　everywhere；　but　suddenly　it　was　interrupted
by　a　very　brisk　fire　of　artillery　and　musketry。　A　radiant　flash
seemed　to　light　up　the　emperor's　face；　and　proudly　raising　his　head；
he　said；　in　an　imperious　voice：

〃To　your　posts；　gentlemen；　the　battle　is　about　to　commence！〃
＇Footnote：　The　battle　of　Austerlitz；　Dec。　2；1805。＇




CHAPTER　XLIX。

〃GOTT　ERHALTE　FRANZ　DEN　KAISER！〃


For　three　days　the　utmost　uneasiness　and　commotion　had　reigned　in
Vienna。　Nobody　wanted　to　stay　at　home。　Everybody　hastened　into　the
street；　as　if　he　hoped　there　to　hear　at　an　earlier　moment　the　great
news　which　the　people　were　looking　for；　and　as　if　the　fresh　air
which　had　carried　to　them　three　days　ago　the　thundering　echoes

of　the　cannon；　would　waft　to　them　to…day　the　tidings　of　the
brilliant　victory　supposed　to　be　achieved　by　the　Emperors　Francis
and　Alexander。

But　these　victorious　tidings　did　not　come；　the　roar　of　the　cannon
had　a　quicker　tongue　than　the　courier　who　was　to　bring　the　news　of
the　victory。　He　did　not　come；　and　yet　the　good　people　of　Vienna　were
waiting　for　him　with　impatience　and；　at　the　same　time；　with　proud
and　joyful　confidence。　It　is　true　no　one　was　able　to　state
positively　where　the　battle　had　been　fought；　but　the　people　were
able　to　calculate　the　spot　where　the　great　struggle　had　probably
taken　place；　for　they　knew　that　the　allies　had　occupied　the
immediate　environs　of　Olmutz；　and　then　advanced　toward　Brunn　and
Austerlitz；　where　the　French　army　had　established　itself。　They
calculated　the　time　which　the　courier　would　consume　in　order　to
reach　Vienna　from　the　battle…field；　and　the　obstacles　and　delays
that　might　have　possibly　impeded　his　progress　were　taken　into
consideration。　But　no　one　felt　anxious　at　his　prolonged　absence；　no
one　doubted　that　the　allies　had　obtained　a　great　victory。

For　their　two　armies　were　by　far　superior　to　the　French　army；　and
Napoleon　himself　had　not　hoped　for　a　victory　this　time；　he　had
fallen　back　with　his　army　because　he　wished　to　avoid　a　battle　with
the　superior　forces　of　the　enemy；　he　had　even　gone　so　far　in　his
despondency　as　to　write　to　the　Emperor　of　Russia　and　to　sue　for
peace。

How　could　people　think；　therefore；　that　Napoleon　had　won　the　battle；
the　thunders　of　which　had　filled　the　Viennese　three　days　ago　with
the　utmost　exultation？

No；　fate　had　at　length　stopped　the　onward　career　of　the　conqueror；
and　it　was　on　Austrian　soil　that　his　eagles　were　to　be　struck　down
and　his　laurels　to　wither。

Nobody　doubted　it；　the　joyful　anticipation　of　a　great　victory
animated　every　heart　and　beamed　from　every　eye。　They　longed　for　the
arrival　of　the　courier；　and　were　overjoyed　to　celebrate　at　length　a
triumph　over　those　supercilious　French；　who　had　latterly　humiliated
and　angered　the　poor　people　of　Vienna　on　so　many　occasions。

It　is　true　the　French　embassy　had　not　yet　left　Vienna。　But　that　was
only　a　symptom　that　it　had　not　yet　been　reached　by　a　courier　from
the　battle…field；　else　it　would　have　fled　from　Vienna　in　the　utmost
haste。

But　the　people　did　not　wish　to　permit　the　overbearing　French　to
depart　from　their　city　in　so　quiet　and　unpretending　a　manner；　they
wanted　to　accompany　them　at　least　with　loud　jeers；　with　scornful
shouts　and　curses。

Thousands；　therefore；　surrounded　the　house　of　the　French　embassy；
where　Talleyrand；　Napoleon's　minister　of　foreign　affairs；　had　been
staying　for　some　days；　and　no　longer　did　they　swallow　their　wrath
and　hatred；　but　they　gave　vent　to　it　loudly；　no　longer　did　they
threaten　only　with　their　glances；　but　also　with　their　fists；　which
they　raised　menacingly　toward　the　windows　of　the　French　minister。

And　while　thousands　had　gathered　around　the　embass