“The general, on being informed of Timbuctoo’s mighty act of valor, had the headless bodies that had been left in the neighboring village interred at once, that it might not be discovered that they were decapitated.  The Prussians returned thither the following day.  The mayor and seven prominent inhabitants were shot on the spot, by way of reprisal, as having denounced the Prussians.

“Winter was here.  We were exhausted and desperate.  There were skirmishes now every day.  The famished men could no longer march.  The eight ‘Turcos’ alone (three had been killed) remained fat and shiny, vigorous and always ready to fight.  Timbuctoo was even getting fatter.  He said to me one day: 

“‘You much hungry; me good meat.’

“And he brought me an excellent filet.  But of what?  We had no more cattle, nor sheep, nor goats, nor donkeys, nor pigs.  It was impossible to get a horse.  I thought of all this after I had devoured my meat.  Then a horrible idea came to me.  These negroes were born close to a country where they eat human beings!  And each day such a number of soldiers were killed around the town!  I questioned Timbuctoo.  He would not answer.  I did not insist, but from that time on I declined his presents.

“He worshipped me.  One night snow took us by surprise at the outposts.  We were seated, on the ground.  I looked with pity at those poor negroes shivering beneath this white frozen shower.  I was very cold and began to cough.  At once I felt something fall on me like a large warm quilt.  It was Timbuctoo’s cape that he had thrown on my shoulders.

“I rose and returned his garment, saying: 

“‘Keep it, my boy; you need it more than I do.’

“‘Non, my lieutenant, for you; me no need.  Me hot, hot!’

“And he looked at me entreatingly.

“‘Come, obey orders.  Keep your cape; I insist,’ I replied.

“He then stood up, drew his sword, which he had sharpened to an edge like a scythe, and holding in his other hand the large cape which I had refused, said: 

“‘If you not keep cape, me cut.  No one cape.’

“And he would have done it.  So I yielded.

“Eight days later we capitulated.  Some of us had been able to escape, the rest were to march out of the town and give themselves up to the conquerors.

“I went towards the exercising ground, where we were all to meet, when I was dumfounded at the sight of a gigantic negro dressed in white duck and wearing a straw hat.  It was Timbuctoo.  He was beaming and was walking with his hands in his pockets in front of a little shop where two plates and two glasses were displayed.

“‘What are you doing?’ I said.

“’Me not go.  Me good cook; me make food for Colonel Algeria.  Me eat Prussians; much steal, much.’

“There were ten degrees of frost.  I shivered at sight of this negro in white duck.  He took me by the arm and made me go inside.  I noticed an immense flag that he was going to place outside his door as soon as we had left, for he had some shame.”