We will close with these simple, soldierly words, more eloquent than the most brilliant harangues. The brigade will reckon them among their proudest trophies to all time. FOOTNOTES: [1] We may perhaps be allowed to note that _Dixmude_ appeared in the _Revue des Deux Mondes_, March 1 and 15, before any other study on the subject. [2] "When we passed through the streets of Ghent they were full of people shouting, 'Long live the French!' I heard one person in the crowd call out, 'Long live Jean Gouin!' He must have known them well." (Letter of Fusilier F., of the island of Sein.) Le Gwenn, which has been corrupted into Gouin, is a very common name in Brittany. [Compare the current English nickname "Jack Tar."--TR.] NOTE The sources drawn upon in the following narrative are of various kinds: official _communiqués_, French and foreign reports, etc. But the majority of our information was derived from private letters, collected by M. de Thézac, the modest and zealous founder of the _Abris du Marin_ (Seamen's Shelters), from note-books kindly lent by their owners, and from oral inquiries addressed to the survivors of Melle and Dixmude. Whenever possible, we have let our correspondents speak for themselves. We regret that the strictest orders have compelled us to preserve their anonymity, which, however, we hope may be merely temporary. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION i--xv I. TOWARDS GHENT 1 II. THE BATTLE OF MELLE 11 III. RETREAT 29 IV. ON THE YSER 35 V. DIXMUDE 42 VI. THE CAPTURE OF BEERST 52 VII. THE FIRST EFFECTS OF THE BOMBARDMENT 70 VIII. THE INUNDATION 94 IX. THE MURDER OF COMMANDER JEANNIOT 99 X. IN THE TRENCHES 117 XI. THE ATTACK ON THE CHÂTEAU DE WOUMEN 133 XII. THE DEATH OF DIXMUDE 142 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE