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that it pained my heart to see him。〃
〃Poor man！ he had doubtless known some great sorrow。〃
〃Your mother had been closeted with him for some minutes； when she called
me to her and said that she had just received good news of the general。
She was in tears； and had before her a large packet of papers； it was a
kind of journal； which your father had written every evening to console
himself； not being able to speak to her； he told the paper all that he
would have told her。〃
〃Oh！ where are these papers； Dagobert？〃
〃There； in the knapsack； with my cross and our purse。 One day I will
give them to you： but I have picked out a few leaves here and there for
you to read presently。 You will see why。〃
〃Had our father been long in India？〃
〃I gathered from the few words which your mother said； that the general
had gone to that country； after fighting for the Greeks against the
Turksfor he always liked to side with the weak against the strong。 In
India he made fierce war against the English； they had murdered our
prisoners in pontoons； and tortured the Emperor at St。 Helena； and the
war was a doubly good one； for in harming them he served a just cause。〃
〃What cause did he serve then？〃
〃That of one of the poor native princes； whose territories the English；
lay waste； till the day when they can take possession of them against law
and right。 You see； my children； it was once more the weak against the
strong； and your father did not miss this opportunity。 In a few months
he had so well…trained and disciplined the twelve or fifteen thousand men
of the prince； that； in two encounters； they cut to pieces the English
sent against them； and who； no doubt； had in their reckoning left out
your brave father； my children。 But come； you shall read some pages of
his journal； which will tell you more and better than I can。 Moreover；
you will find in them a name which you ought always to remember； that's
why I chose this passage。〃
〃Oh； what happiness！ To read the pages written by our father； is almost
to hear him speak；〃 said Rose。
〃It is as if he were close beside us；〃 added Blanche。
And the girls stretched out their hands with eagerness； to catch hold of
the leaves that Dagobert had taken from his pocket。 Then； by a
simultaneous movement； full of touching grace； they pressed the writing
of their father in silence to their lips。
〃You will see also； my children； at the end of this letter； why I was
surprised that your guardian angel； as you say； should be called Gabriel。
Read； read；〃 added the soldier； observing the puzzled air of the orphans。
〃Only I ought to tell you that； when he wrote this； the general had not
yet fallen in with the traveller who brought the papers。〃
Rose； sitting up in her bed； took the leaves； and began to read in a soft
and trembling voice； Blanche； with her head resting on her sister's
shoulder； followed attentively every word。 One could even see； by the
slight motion of her lips； that she too was reading； but only to herself。
CHAPTER VIII。
EXTRACTS FROM GENERAL SIMON'S DIARY。
Bivouac on the Mountains of Avers February the 20th； 1830。
〃Each time I add some pages to this journal； written now in the heart of
India； where the fortune of my wandering and proscribed existence has
thrown mea journal which； alas！ my beloved Eva； you may never readI
experience a sweet； yet painful emotion； for； although to converse thus
with you is a consolation； it brings back the bitter thought that I am
unable to see or speak to you。
〃Still； if these pages should ever meet your eyes； your generous heart
will throb at the name of the intrepid being； to whom I am this day
indebted for my life； and to whom I may thus perhaps owe the happiness of
seeing you againyou and my childfor of course our child lives。 Yes；
it must befor else； poor wife； what an existence would be yours amid
the horrors of exile！ Dear soul！ he must now be fourteen。 Whom does he
resemble？ Is he like you？ Has he your large and beautiful blue eyes？
Madman that I am！ how many times； in this long day…book； have I already
asked the same idle question； to which you can return no answer！How
many times shall I continue to ask it？But you will teach our child to
speak and love the somewhat savage name of Djalma。〃
〃Djalma！〃 said Rose； as with moist eyes she left off reading。
〃Djalma！〃 repeated Blanche； who shared the emotion of her sister。 〃Oh；
we shall never forget that name。〃
〃And you will do well； my children； for it seems to be the name of a
famous soldier； though a very young one。 But go on； my little Rose！〃
〃I have told you in the preceding pages； my dear Eva； of the two glorious
days we had this month。 The troops of my old friend； the prince； which
daily make fresh advances in European discipline； have performed wonders。
We have beaten the English； and obliged them to abandon a portion of this
unhappy country； which they had invaded in contempt of all the rights of
justice； and which they continue to ravage without mercy； for； in these
parts； warfare is another name for treachery； pillage； and massacre。
This morning； after a toilsome march through a rocky and mountainous
district； we received information from our scouts； that the enemy had
been reinforced； and was preparing to act on the offensive； and； as we
were separated from them by a distance of a few leagues only； an
engagement became inevitable。 My old friend the prince； the father of my
deliverer； was impatient to march to the attack。 The action began about
three o'clock； it was very bloody and furious。 Seeing that our men
wavered for a moment； for they were inferior in number； and the English
reinforcements consisted of fresh troops； I charged at the head of our
weak reserve of cavalry。 The old prince was in the centre； fighting； as
he always fights； intrepidly； his son； Djalma； scarcely eighteen； as
brave as his father； did not leave my side。 In the hottest part of the
engagement； my horse was killed under me； and rolling over into a ravine；
along the edge of which I was riding； I found myself so awkwardly
entangled beneath him； that for an instant I thought my thigh was
broken。〃
〃Poor father！〃 said Blanche。
〃This time； happily； nothing more dangerous ensued thanks to Djalma！ You
see； Dagobert；〃 added Rose； 〃that I remember the name。〃 And she
continued to read；
〃The English thoughtand a very flattering opinion it wasthat； if they
could kill me； they would make short work of the prince's army。 So a
Sepoy officer； with five or six irregularscowardly； ferocious
plunderersseeing me roll down the ravine； threw themselves into it to
despatch me。 Surrounded by fire and smoke； and carried away by their
ardor； our mountaineers had not seen me fall； but Djalma never left me。
He leaped into the ravine to my assistance； and his cool intrepidity
saved my life。 He had held the fire of his double…barrelled carbine；
with one load； he killed the officer on the spot； with the other he broke
the arm of an irregular； who had already pierced my left hand with his
bayonet。 But do not be alarmed； dear Eva； it is nothingonly a
scratch。〃
〃Woundedagain woundedalas！〃 cr