



( 207 ) 

 A CITIZEN'S CAMPAIGN. 



ON the 3d of August, of the memorable 1830, Monsieur B 



received a commission, or rather authorization, to act, from the Pro- 

 visional Government in Paris, bearing the signature of the venerable 

 and lamented Lafayette, with instructions to use every effort to raise 

 and arm the country and villages around Rambouillet, where the 

 royal troops had taken a position, and still threatened the capital. 

 He left Paris in the forenoon, by the Barriere d'Enfer, accompanied 

 by a young friend and a veteran sergeant of the Imperial Guard, 

 who had served fifteen campaigns under Napoleon, including those 

 of Russia and Egypt, and had followed him to Elba, where he received 

 from the emperor's own hand the cross of the Legion of Honour ; and 

 still the old man appeared as vigorous as ever. Each of them 

 carried a heavy musket and bayonet, every pocket was crammed 

 with ball cartridges, while a large bundle of proclamations, made 

 fast to the shoulders and hanging behind like a knapsack, completed 

 their equipment. 



M. B had a small country-house and some land at the village of 



Aunay, not far from Rambouillet, and about twelve leagues from Paris; 

 to this spot our little party directed their steps. The mass of the 

 Parisians left Paris by the Barriere de Neuilly, pursuing the course 



of the Seine ; and M. B calculated upon joining* them the next 



morning by a cross country road, after visiting Aunay ; where, being 

 best known, he would possess most influence with the country 

 people. 



After marching six leagues, M. B began to betray symptoms 

 of weariness ; but Huguenin (the sergeant) would not hear of their 

 stopping until three more leagues had been accomplished. He did 



not know what fatigue meant; and, taking M. B J s musket, the 



fine old man threw it over his left shoulder by the side of his own, 

 gave him his right arm, mainly supporting him during another league 

 they traversed in this manner ; but when seven leagues from Paris, 



M. B and his young friend could go no further, and about eight 



o'clock they halted, completely worn out by the fatigue of their 

 march and the heat of the weather. 



A barn standing a few paces on the left side of the road served for 



their lodging, and M. B and his friend were but too happy to 



stretch themselves upon some litter, and rest their weary frames. 

 Huguenin volunteered to be sentinel first, and took up his position 

 in front of the " grange," directly opposite to which, on the right 

 side of the road, a rather narrow lane led up a gentle slope in the 

 direction of St. Arnoued. 



The night was calm and fine, though somewhat cloudy, and all re- 

 mained very quiet until nearly midnight. The sergeant was still on 

 guard : he was puffing away at a short pipe, and lounging against 

 the corner of the barn the others were wrapt in sleep when the 

 trampling of horse broke upon the ear of the sentinel. He listened 



