This soldier, guide of the sisters, and formerly a horse-grenadier of the
Imperial Guard, had been nicknamed Dagobert. His grave, stern countenance
was strongly marked; his long, gray, and thick moustache completely
concealed his upper lip, and united with a large imperial, which almost
covered his chin; his meagre cheeks, brick-colored, and tanned as
parchment, were carefully shaven; thick eyebrows, still black, overhung
and shaded his light blue eyes; gold ear-rings reached down to his
white-edged military stock; his topcoat, of coarse gray cloth, was
confined at the waist by a leathern belt; and a blue foraging cap, with a
red tuft falling on his left shoulder, covered his bald head.

Once endowed with the strength of Hercules, and having still the heart of
a lion--kind and patient, because he was courageous and strong--Dagobert,
notwithstanding his rough exterior, evinced for his orphan charges an
exquisite solicitude, a watchful kindness, and a tenderness almost
maternal. Yes, motherly; for the heroism of affection dwells alike in the
mother's heart and the soldiers.

Stoically calm, and repressing all emotion, the unchangeable coolness of
Dagobert never failed him; and, though few were less given to drollery,
he was now and then highly comic, by reason of the imperturbable gravity
with which he did everything.

From time to time, as they journeyed on, Dagobert would turn to bestow a
caress or friendly word on the good white home upon which the orphans
were mounted. Its furrowed sides and long teeth betrayed a venerable age.
Two deep scars, one on the flank and the other on the chest, proved that
his horse had been present in hot battles; nor was it without an act of
pride that he sometimes shook his old military bridle, the brass stud of
which was still adorned with an embossed eagle. His pace was regular,