This ocular demonstration satisfied Jacintha; and she ordered Dard to
help her draw the water.
"All right," said he, "there is no immortal glory to be picked up
to-day, so I'll go in for odd jobs."
While they were at this job a voice was heard hallooing. Dard looked
up, and there was a rigid military figure, with a tremendous
mustache, peering about. Dard was overjoyed. It was his friend, his
boon-companion. "Come here, old fellow," cried he, "ain't I glad to
see you, that is all?" La Croix marched towards the pair. "What are you
skulking here for, recruit ninety-nine?" said he, sternly, dropping the
boon-companion in the sergeant; "the rest are on the road."
"The rest, old fellow! what do you mean? why, I was not drawn."
"Yes, you were."
"No, I wasn't."
"Thunder of war, but I say you were. Yours was the last number."
"That is an unlucky guess of yours, for I saw the last number. Look
here," and he fumbled in his pocket, and produced his number.
La Croix instantly fished out a corresponding number.
"Well, and here you are; this was the last number drawn.
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