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Updated: May 8, 2025
Here is your commission, Major Labonne; and here is a little thing it was his own cross of the Legion that the Emperor gave me 'that I want you to wear in remembrance of that day when you did as brave a piece of work as ever was done by a French soldier for the honor of France! "And so you see, Monsieur, it was only a comedy about my being shot, after all. Here is Avignon.
I began to think that this was worse than the Russians! "'When shall I order the court-martial, your Majesty? asked my colonel. "'I will be the court-martial, said the Emperor. 'This is a serious matter; this is a matter to be dealt with in a hurry. The case is proved. There is no need for a trial. I order Private Labonne to be shot right away. "I shivered all down my back.
"My colonel's voice broke a little as he answered, 'It was very brave, your Majesty. "'Eh, well, Private Labonne, said the Emperor, turning again to me, 'we won't shoot you. Your colonel is right about your bravery; and to shoot a brave man, except in battle, is a mistake.
"'Private Labonne, said my colonel, he spoke in a very harsh tone, yet it seemed to me that there was an odd sort of twinkle in his eye 'you deserted your post, and you were absent without leave when your regiment went into action. "'Yes, but "'Not a word of excuse, Private Labonne. You know the penalty. I did know the penalty, of course; it was to be taken out and shot.
It was worse than the Russians; very much worse. "'Take him away, said my colonel. "The corporal put his hand on my shoulder and the guard closed in. 'March! said the corporal. "'Stop! said the Emperor. 'Private Labonne, before you are taken away and shot, tell me what you were doing in that battery. "'Nothing, your Majesty. "'Nothing? I thought that I heard something about guns being spiked.
The 'Gabrielle' was on her way to Cardwell for fresh provisions and water, and after the dangers to be avoided had been pointed out by the pilot, we bade adieu to Jean Labonne and his queer crew, though not before one of our party had succeeded in jotting down the features of a Kanaka diver, his wife and child.
Did not you spike a gun, Private Labonne? "'Yes, your Majesty. "'Did not you spike two guns and both of them after the gunners and the officer in command of the battery had run away? "'Yes, your Majesty. "'And why did you not run away, too, Private Labonne? "'Because I wanted to spike the guns, your Majesty.
There seemed to be only two white men, one of whom introduced himself as the captain, and asked us, in French, to come on board. The vessel was the 'Gabrielle d'Estonville', of New Caledonia, commanded by Captain Jean Labonne, and had put into Rockingham Bay for water, during a 'beche-de-mer' expedition. Anything to equal the filth of the fair 'Gabrielle', I never saw.
"The Emperor turned to my colonel. 'There is something in what Private Labonne says, eh, colonel? I suppose there really would have been the very devil to pay had the enemy turned those guns? "'I suppose there would, said my colonel, a little grimly. "'Then the case is not quite so black against Private Labonne as it at first appeared? "'Not quite so black, said my colonel.
Captain Labonne welcomed us very cordially the sight of a strange face must have been a godsend and most hospitably asked us to share his breakfast, but as it consisted only of dried fish, which smelt most abominably, we declined, and he was very grateful for a couple of pots of sardines which we gave him out of our slender stock.
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