"He tried to swim in his
own soup and he was drowned."
When Pierre reported to the officer of the day, that busy functionary
consulted the record.
"You are a day ahead of your time, Pierre Duval," he said, frowning
slightly.
"Yes, sir," answered the soldier. "It costs less to be a day ahead
than a day too late."
"That is well," said the officer, smiling in his red beard. "You
will report to-morrow to your regiment at the citadel. You have a
new colonel, but the regiment is busy in the old way."
As Pierre saluted and turned to go out his eye caught the look
of a general officer who stood near, watching. He was a square,
alert, vigorous man, his face bronzed by the suns of many African
campaigns, his eyes full of intelligence, humor, and courage. It
was Guillaumat, the new commander of the Army of Verdun.
"You are prompt, my son," said he pleasantly, "but you must
remember not to be in a hurry. You have been in hospital. Are you
well again? Nothing broken?"
"Something was broken, my General," responded the soldier gravely,
"but it is mended.
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