for your friend Bismarck, either."

The others were also beginning to growl and show their teeth, and Jean
thought it time that he should interfere.

"Silence there! I will report the first man who says another word!"

But Chouteau sneered and jeered at him; what did he care whether he
reported him or not! He was not going to fight unless he chose, and
they need not try to ride him rough-shod, because he had cartridges in
his box for other people beside the Prussians. They were going into
action now, and what discipline had been maintained by fear would be
at an end: what could they do to him, anyway? he would just skip as
soon as he thought he had enough of it. And he was profane and
obscene, egging the men on against the corporal, who had been allowing
them to starve. Yes, it was his fault that the squad had had nothing
to eat in the last three days, while their neighbors had soup and
fresh meat in plenty, but "monsieur" had to go off to town with the
"aristo" and enjoy himself with the girls. People had spotted 'em,
over in Sedan.

"You stole the money belonging to the squad; deny it if you dare, you
_bougre_ of a belly-god!"

Things were beginning to assume an ugly complexion; Lapoulle was
doubling his big fists in a way that looked like business, and Pache,
with the pangs of hunger gnawing at his vitals, laid aside his natural
douceness and insisted on an explanation. The only reasonable one
among them was Loubet, who gave one of his pawky laughs and suggested
that, being Frenchmen, they might as well dine off the Prussians as