"
"But, general," objected Raynal, "you are not beginning at the
beginning. The first thing in these cases is to choose the officer to
command the storming party."
"Yes, Raynal, unquestionably; but you must be aware that is a painful
and embarrassing part of my duty, especially after Colonel Dujardin's
remarks."
"Ah, bah!" cried Raynal. "He is prejudiced. He has been digging a
thundering long mine here, and now you are going to make his child
useless. We none of us like that. But when he gets the colors in his
hand, and the storming column at his back, his misgivings will all go to
the wind, and the enemy after them, unless he has been committing some
crime, and is very much changed from what I knew him four years ago."
"Colonel Raynal," said one of the other colonels, politely but firmly,
"pray do not assume that Colonel Dujardin is to lead the column; there
are three other claimants. General Raimbaut is to select from us four."
"Yes, gentlemen, and in a service of this kind I would feel grateful to
you all if you would relieve me of that painful duty.
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