Not a moment was now to be lost. I dashed my spurs into my jaded horse, and rode forwards, calling aloud, at the top of my voice, “The Emperor! the Emperor!” Still, the panic overbore my words, and another discharge was given: with one bullet I was struck in the shoulder, another killed my horse; but springing to my legs in an instant, I rushed on, repeating my cry. Before I could do more than point to the spot, Napoleon came forward, leading his horse by the bridle. His step was slow and measured, and his face--for many a torchlight was now gathered to the place--was calm and tranquil. “Ye are well upon the alert, _mes enfant!_” said he, with a smile; “see that ye be as ready with your fire to-morrow!” A wild cheer answered these words, while he continued: “These are the new levies, Lieutenant; the Guards would have had more patience. Where is the officer who followed me?” “Here, Sire,” said I, endeavoring to conceal the appearance of being wounded. “Mount, sir, and accompany me to headquarters.” “My horse is killed, Sire.” “Yes, _parbleu!_” said a young soldier, who had not learned much respect before his superiors; “and he has a ball in his neck himself.” “Are you wounded?” said the Emperor, with a quickness in his manner. “A mere flesh-wound in the arm,--of no consequence, Sire.” “Let the surgeon of the detachment see to this at once, Lieutenant,” said he to the officer of the party; “and do you come to headquarters when you are able.” With this, the Emperor mounted again, and in a few seconds more was lost to our sight. “_Ventrebleu!_” said the old lieutenant, who had served without promotion from the first battles of the Republic, “you'll be a colonel for that scratch on your epaulette, if we only beat the Prussians to-morrow; and here am I, with eight wounds from lead and steel, and the Petit Caporal never bade me visit him at his bivouac. Come, come! I don't wish to be unfriendly; it's not _your_ fault, it's only _my_ bad fortune. And here comes the surgeon.” The lieutenant was right,--the epaulette had the worst of the adventure; and, in half an hour I proceeded on my way to headquarters. CHAPTER XXII. L'HOMME ROUGE On my way to the imperial quarters, I fell in with some squadrons of our dragoons, from whom I learned that General d'Auvergne had just received orders to repair to the Emperor's bivouac, to which several officers in command were also summoned. As I saw, therefore, that I could have no prospect of meeting the Emperor, I resolved merely to hold myself in readiness, should he, which seemed little likely, think of me; and accordingly I took up my post with some young under-officers of our brigade, at a huge fire, where a species of canteen had been established, and coffee and corn-brandy were served out to all comers.