containing a small ivory comb, and fitted with a piece of looking-glass on the outside. General D&rsquo;Hubert, his hands being free, felt in his breeches&rsquo; pockets for that implement of innocent vanity excusable in the possessor of long, silky moustaches. He drew it out, and then with the utmost coolness and promptitude turned himself over on his back. In this new attitude, his head a little raised, holding the little looking-glass just clear of his tree, he squinted into it with his left eye, while the right kept a direct watch on the rear of his position. Thus was proved Napoleon&rsquo;s saying, that &ldquo;for a French soldier, the word impossible does not exist.&rdquo; He had the right tree nearly filling the field of his little mirror. </p> <p> &ldquo;If he moves from behind it,&rdquo; he reflected with satisfaction, &ldquo;I am bound to see his legs. But in any case he can&rsquo;t come upon me unawares.&rdquo; </p> <p> And sure enough he saw the boots of General Feraud flash in and out, eclipsing for an instant everything else reflected in the little mirror. He shifted its position accordingly. But having to form his judgment of the change from that indirect view he did not realize that now his feet and a portion of his legs were in plain sight of General Feraud. </p> <p> General Feraud had been getting gradually impressed by the amazing cleverness with which his enemy was keeping cover. He had spotted the right tree with bloodthirsty precision. He was absolutely certain of it. And yet he had not been able to glimpse as much as the tip of an ear. As he had been looking for it at the height of about five feet ten inches from the ground it was no great wonder&mdash;but it seemed very wonderful to General Feraud. </p> <p> The first view of these feet and legs determined a rush of blood to his head. He literally staggered behind his tree, and had to steady himself against it with his hand. The other was lying on the ground, then! On the ground! Perfectly still, too! Exposed! What could it mean? . . . The notion that he had knocked over his adversary at the first shot entered then General Feraud&rsquo;s head. Once there it grew with every second of attentive gazing, overshadowing every other supposition&mdash;irresistible, triumphant, ferocious. </p> <p> &ldquo;What an ass I was to think I could have missed him,&rdquo; he muttered to himself. &ldquo;He was exposed en plein&mdash;the fool!&mdash;for quite a couple of seconds.&rdquo; </p> <p> General Feraud gazed at the motionless limbs, the last vestiges of surprise fading before an unbounded admiration of his own deadly skill with the pistol. </p> <p>