The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 297: what you’re looking at

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

204 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO, ‘Thank you; but I now hope that I shall not be compelled to resort to such a proceedin g. She will be quite affected when she hears that I have been wounded and have got over it.” ‘She will. I am sorry, too, Lavolt, that you ever entered the army. It is not the place for a man of your prospects, your hopes, and your wishes. “You know the cause. But why should I not do as well in the army as any other, though I have ten thousand francs a ear ?” we Because you are too fond of domestic happiness. You have not the ambition of a soldier.” ‘Do you doubt my courage ¢” ‘‘No; if I did your conduct to-day would teach me to respect it. But I know you have not only courage, but capacity also. You have a home—a beautiful girl, and have every prospect of all the happiness you could wish.” ‘*T have,” se and you entered the army in a fit of spleen.” “T did.” ‘‘And you think because you have done your duty that that will in time make you a general. Well, you will find that it will not; and though a lovers’ quarrel can make a soldier, it can- not make a general of division.” “*'You are joking with me.” ‘Not I; but I must seek rest for myself. I have gone through much to-day. Good-bye. May you rest well. I will see you in the morning, and hope to find you better.” ‘¢ Adieu!” said the wounded man. The other came near the opening of the tent—I was standing close by it. The moment I saw him advance, I drew my sword, and passed it through his body, and he fell to the earth without @ groan. stepped over the body, and entered the tent. The wounded man had turned in his bed, and lay with his back toward me. T stepped up to the bed. ‘*T thought you had gone,” he said to me, without turning. ‘*T am just come in,” I said. My voice caused him to turn round. There was so much of bitterness that he seemed terror-stricken. ‘‘ Who are you ?” he inquired, ‘‘and what do you want?” ‘Do you see this weapon ?” said I, as held up the sword be- fore his astonished eyes. **T do—help!” I permitted no other sound to pass his lips, for with one blow I cleaved his head in two. Voices were heard outside the tent —I put out the light, and ripping an opening in the tent with my good sword, I quitted it as others came in. Again did the sun set upon another bloody field, over which lay the strewn corses of mangled men and beasts, who lay in con- fused masses—the wounded entangled with the dead. It was here I had been seen fighting with all the spirit I could. It seemed to astonish our officers, The men looked at me in comicbooks. com