I pressed forward; and there on a litter lay the figure of a large and singularly fine-looking man. His coat, which was covered with orders, lay open, and discovered a shirt stained and clotted with blood; but his most dangerous wound was from a grapeshot in the thigh, which shattered the bone, and necessitated amputation. A young staff surgeon, the only medical man present, was kneeling at his side, and occupied in compressing some wounded vessels to arrest the bleeding, which, at the slightest stir of the patient, broke out anew. The remainder of the group were grenadiers of his own regiment, in whose sad and sorrow-struck faces one might read the affection his men invariably bore him. “Is he coming? can you hear any one coming?” said the young surgeon, in an anxious whisper to the soldier beside him. “No, sir; but he cannot be far off now,” replied the man. “Shall I ride back to Reygern for assistance?” said I, in a low voice, to the surgeon. “I thank you, sir,” said the wounded man, in a low, calm tone,--for with the quick ear of suffering he had overheard my question,--“I thank you, but my orderly has already been sent thither. If you could relieve my young friend here from his fatiguing duty for a little, you would render us both a service. I am truly grieved to see him so much exhausted.” “No, no, sir!” stammered the youth, as the tears ran fast down his cheeks; “this is my place. I will not leave it.” “Kind fellow!” muttered the general, as he pressed his hand gently on the young man's arm; “I can bear this better than you can.” “Ah, here he comes now,” said the sentinel; and the same moment a man dismounted from his horse, and came forward towards us. It was Louis, the surgeon of the Emperor himself, despatched by Napoleon the moment he heard of the event. At any other moment, perhaps, the abrupt demeanor of this celebrated surgeon would have savored little of delicacy or feeling; nor even then could I forgive the sudden announcement in which he conveyed to the sufferer that immediate amputation must be performed. “No chance left but this, Louis?” said the general. “None, sir,” replied the doctor, while he unlocked an instrument case, and busied himself in preparation for the operation. “Can you defer it a little; an hour or two, I mean?” “An hour, perhaps; not more, certainly.” “But am I certain of your services then, Louis?” said the general, trying to smile. “You know I always promised myself your aid when this hour came.” “I shall return in an hour,” replied the doctor, pulling out his watch; “I am going to Rapp's quarters.” “Poor Rapp! is he wounded?” “A mere sabre-cut; but Sebastiani has suffered more severely. Now then, Lanusse,” said he, addressing the young surgeon, “you remain here. Continue as you are doing, and in an hour--”