for Berthier, whom he regarded as a

Thiebault, like most of Napoleon's

in the early days of the Empire, invited

toady and a carpet-knight. The Marshal,

his master to a rabbit-shoot on his estate,

to furnish sport. ' But how can I tell it

and bought a thousand of these animals

his 'Memoirs,, which have just been pub-

or be believed ?' says Baron Thiebault in

Line 1.5.0 lished. ' All those rabbits, which should

Line 1.5.1 have tried in vain, even by scattering

Line 1.5.2 themselves, to escape the shots which

Line 1.5.3 the august hand destined for them, sud-

Line 1.5.4 denly collected, first in knots, then in a

Line 1.5.5 body; instead of having recourse to a

Line 1.5.6 useless flight, they all faced about, and in

Line 1.5.7 an instant the whole phalanx flung itself

Line 1.5.8 upon Napoleon. The surprise was un-

Line 1.5.9 bounded, as was Berthier's wrath. At

Line 1.5.10 once he assembled a force of coachmen,

Line 1.5.11 with long whips, and darted forward at

Line 1.5.12 their head. The rabbits put to flight,

Line 1.5.13 Napoleon was delivered, and they were

Line 1.5.14 looking on the incident as a delay-

Line 1.5.15 comical, no doubt, but well over-when,

Line 1.5.16 by a wheel in three bodies to right and

Line 1.5.17 left, the intrepid rabbits turned the

Line 1.5.18 Emperor's flank, attacked him frantically

Line 1.5.19 in the rear, refused to quit their hold,

Line 1.5.20 piled themselves up between his legs till

Line 1.5.21 they made him stagger, and forced the

Line 1.5.22 conqueror of conquerors, fairly exhausted,

Line 1.5.23 to retreat and leave them in possession of

Line 1.5.24 the field. It only remains to explain the