Belle-Rose — page 58: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

, ‘ > i as iy _ ~ _ {PHE INTERIOR OF A BARRACK. 47 a < ~~ s ~ * .. “e ¥ 2 Dee eet ea yt Ve * | « a r.. io ees ee o. Lara d ~ ‘a? Ae ‘ T : .7 =) + ‘ ~ — afer “4 "d ‘ ? < , a. o> Pe ne ° eo ~~ 4 s Pra: a m5 . ot =f » & Le ll aS = “ re ¥ » ~- a * . al : a . a Xm." * ae For sole reply, Belle-Rose made him a sign to go ahead. They noiselessly left the city and stopped in the country behind an old cemetery where no one passed. The adver- saries threw aside their coats, and drawing their swords, began to fence. ‘The soldier, who was a cannoneer named Bouletord, pushed Belle- Rose with so much fury that the latter was forced to break twice. “Oh! oh!” exclaimed his enemy, “it appears that what. you have retained best of your studies is the art of re- treat.’’ | Belle-Rose made no reply and continued to parry. He attempted—not being angry just now—to disarm Boule- tord; but the cannoneer was too skilful to permit him to do it. In breaking a-third time, Belle-Rose stumbled against a stone. Bouletord profited by the accident to make a thrust which would have pierced him through and through, if the sapper, returning quickly to parade, had not turned it aside. The sword glided along his body and tore his shirt, which was stained by some drops of blood. Peril returned to Belle-Rose some of his anger; in his turn he began to press Bouletord, who broke, but not quickly enough to avoid a thrust in the fleshy part of the arm. Belle-Rose kept on advancing; a second. thrust wounded the cannoneer in the shoulder; he wished to parry, but a third time the sword of the sapper wounded his adversary and penetrated his breast. Bouletord. tot- tered and fell upon his knees. - ‘‘l-am done for, comrade,’’ said he; and he fainted. Belle-Rose, having returned to the barrack, related. to _Déroute what had taken place. - “Tt is unpleasant,’’ the corporal said to him, ‘‘but it was inevitable. ’’ Belle-Rose looked him in the face, “Oh!” continued the corporal, ‘‘it is a part of the regi- mental manners! They have wished to sound you, Boule- tord isa sounder. When a recruit enters the corps, a sol- dier provokes him; anything serves for a pretext under such circumstances; he gives or receives a sword thrust on account of it. If the recruit fights well, he has nothing more to fear, let him be victor or vanquished ; but if he is afraid, he is lost. You have been made to pass through the baptism of steel. ”’ “The duel is nevertheless forbidden. ”’ “That is an excellent reason for its being fought all the more.’ ‘*But what is the result of it?”’ (c(e) m EOmMmIcboOoks