“But that’s not all,” he thought, still carefully studying the tortured face of the unhappy sufferer; “it is not enough to have got out of that.  I have absolutely nothing in the world, no home, no resources.  Beggar by birth, adventurer by fortune, I have enlisted, and have consumed my pay; I hoped for plunder, and here we are in full flight!  What am I to do?  Go and drown myself?  No, certainly a cannon-ball would be as good as that.  But can’t I profit by this chance, and obtain a decent position by turning to my own advantage this curious resemblance, and making some use of this man whom Fate has thrown in my way, and who has but a short time to live?”

Arguing thus, he bent over the prostrate man with a cynical laugh:  one might have thought he was Satan watching the departure of a soul too utterly lost to escape him.

“Alas! alas!” cried the sufferer; “may God have mercy on me!  I feel my end is near.”

“Bah! comrade, drive away these dismal thoughts.  Your leg pains you—­well they will cut it off!  Think only of the other one, and trust in Providence!”

“Water, a drop of water, for Heaven’s sake!” The sufferer was in a high fever.  The would-be nurse looked round and saw a jug of water, towards which the dying man extended a trembling hand.  A truly infernal idea entered his mind.  He poured some water into a gourd which hung from his belt, held it to the lips of the wounded man, and then withdrew it.

“Oh!  I thirst-that water! . . .  For pity’s sake, give me some!”

“Yes, but on one condition you must tell me your whole history.”

“Yes . . . but give me water!”

His tormentor allowed him to swallow a mouthful, then overwhelmed him with questions as to his family, his friends and fortune, and compelled him to answer by keeping before his eyes the water which alone could relieve the fever which devoured him.  After this often interrupted interrogation, the sufferer sank back exhausted, and almost insensible.  But, not yet satisfied, his companion conceived the idea of reviving him with a few drops of brandy, which quickly brought back the fever, and excited his brain sufficiently to enable him to answer fresh questions.  The doses of spirit were doubled several times, at the risk of ending the unhappy man’s days then and there:  Almost delirious, his head feeling as if on fire, his sufferings gave way to a feverish excitement, which took him back to other places and other times:  he began to recall the days of his youth and the country where he lived.  But his tongue was still fettered by a kind of reserve:  his secret thoughts, the private details of his past life were not yet told, and it seemed as though he might die at any moment.  Time was passing, night already coming on, and it occurred to the merciless questioner to profit by the gathering darkness.  By a few solemn words he aroused the religious feelings of the sufferer, terrified