Bon jour, Bon an! a happy new year is the salutation all exchange with all this morning, for this is new year's day, the great holiday of children, and the great bore of adults and aged persons. But bore, or pleasure, it is a family fete day, and here, far from our families, we cannot but think of them. Are those we love even alive? For nearly two months we have had no

news.

At daybreak at six-o'clock, the orderly of Colonel Cavaignac came to inform him that Sergeant Stanislas wished to speak to him. "What can he want with me?" said the Colonel; "but show him in."

"Colonel, I have come to give you news from Algiers, and to ask your forgiveness."

The Colonel then recollected that Stanislas, in consequence of a wound, had remained with the depot at Algiers, He was a brave non-commissioned officer, energetic, but hot-headed, who, a few months before, had gained a cross by his brilliant conduct in action. He had afterwards, for I know not what offence, been condemned to the Salle de Police. "An under officer, decorated, in the Salle de Police !" said he to himself, "is dishonoured; I will not go there." And to avoid this, Stanislas had found no other means

than that of joining the battalions engaged in the field. Behold him then on his road, alone, without arms, in the uniform of a Zouave, stick in hand, traversing all the Sahil, the plain, the mountain range, and finally reaching Medeah. He ran a thousand risks of perishing. But what mattered that? He had left his cross at Algiers, that if killed, it might not be a trophy for the Arabs. "My head; bah!" said he, "they may take that if they can; but as for my cross, that is another matter."

The cold and the rain puts the endurance of our Zouaves to a very severe test; the ground has been for many days covered with snow two feet deep. But on the 16th, we are to make another razzia. The Iman of Medeah, one of the prisoners of our last sortie, is to be our guide. The offer of this service has come from himself, and the following conversation on the occasion took place between him and Colonel Cavaignac.

"You have offered to be our guide," said the Colonel; 66 are you still of the same mind?" "Yes; and I am ready to start."

66 'But perhaps you fear I should be displeased at your changing your intention, and dare not avow your repugnance to this service?"

"I fear nothing, and am disposed to abide by my promise and my offer."

"Reflect before you decide finally; forget that you are my prisoner, and that I am governor of Medeah."

"There is no need of forgetting; I am quite ready to be your guide."

Imagine that you are on the mountain as free as a bird, and that I am shut up in the city."

"No need of all that, I am ready."

"But reflect; many of your countrymen may be killed in this expedition, and that you may reproach yourself with it afterwards, and even suffer from remorse.

"No matter, I am ready."

"You may be recognised by your people; ponder well what you are about."

"No matter, I will go."

"Consider also, keep the conviction uppermost in your mind, that if you attempt to deceive me, you will not have an hour to live."

"Put me to the test."

"Then you are quite determined?" "Yes."

"What reward do you demand if we should succeed?"

"Liberty for a day to fetch two of

dren whom I want here."

"Do you want anything now?"

my

chil

"Yes; a pair of shoes to cross the mountain, and a Zouave capuchin, that I may not be taken for an enemy, and killed by your soldiers." "Good; get ready." "Good day."

An hour afterwards the Colonel assembled all the officers at his own quarters. He communicated to them his project, and gave them their instructions. The force was to be divided into two columns, one of reserve, commanded by the Colonel himself; and the other destined to execute the razzia under the orders of Commandant Leflo. At two o'clock in the morning the party was to be under arms, and on their route immediately afterwards. Before their departure, the following instructions were given to the officers commanding companies, composing the first column.

Absolute silence.

Coughs to be smothered in the folds of a turban.

No pipes.

Shots on the march not to be returned; silence

to be more strictly kept in case any should b heard, and pace quickened.

The first object to take prisoners; kill only at the last extremity.

After prisoners, the capture of cattle is most important.

It

The razzia succeeded beyond all hope. seemed for a moment, however, to have failed. Our guide either lost his way, or deceived us. Just as we were about to shoot him for his mistake or rather for his treason, we fell upon a peopled district; and thanks to the measures taken by our commandant, we made, despite our small number, considerable captures. At eight o'clock in the morning we rejoined the Colonel, bringing with us thirty-four prisoners, a hundred and seventeen oxen, ten horses, mules, thirty asses, and fifteen hundred sheep and goats, having killed besides about twenty Arabs. There was abundance for three months. Joy was on all faces, and our ordinary dinner became a festival. By order of the Colonel, twenty sheep were distributed to each company; to each officer were given two milch goats; and the non-commissioned officers of every company received a like present.

After this expedition our troops resumed their habitual occupations. The Kabyles seemed for