128 STORIES FROM DAUDET

thine . . . since thou hast sacrificed
thy honour for these things, it is the
least thou canst do to take care of them.
. .. Thou’rt master here now ..
as for me, I am leaving. Thou owest
five years to France, I go to pay them
for thee.’

‘Lory, Lory, where are you going?’
cried the old woman. ‘Father! .. .’
implored the lad. . . . But the black-
smith had gone, walking with long
strides, without looking behind. . . .

At Sidi-bel-Abbés, at the depdt of
the Third Zouaves, there has been for
the last few days a volunteer enlisted
who is fifty-five years old.