You swear to me never to abandon it but with life?
You swear never to suffer an affront to it for the honor of France?
You swear ever to prefer death to dishonor for it?
You swear ?'_" As the words of the old officer died away, moved by a common impulse, the hands of the men before him went to their swords.

With sweeping gestures they dragged them out of their sheaths, up into the air they heaved the shining blades.
"We swear," they said solemnly, instinctively repeating the ceremony of the past in which some of them had participated and of which all had heard.
As their words died away the gruff voices of the non-commissioned officers and privates standing at salute repeated the acclaim, in accordance with the custom.
"It was so when the Eagle was given," said old Lestoype, deeply gratified by the spontaneous tribute.

"Gentlemen and comrades, be seated, if you please.

I have called you here for the honor of the regiment to consult as to what is to be done." "_Mon Commandant_," said an old veteran, stepping forward as those present sought seats where they could, "I was port-aigle of the regiment before Dresden.

May I not take in my hand again the 'cou-cou' ?" That was the cant name which the soldiers gave to the standard, a term of affection, of familiarity, of comradeship which in no way indicated any lack of respect or any diminution of determination to die for it if necessary.
"To you I gladly commit it until we have determined what is to be done with it," said Lestoype, handing it to the old man.
It seemed a perfectly natural and spontaneous act to the officers present when the port-aigle pressed his lips reverently upon the number plate below the feet of the Eagle and then, disdaining to sit down, stood at attention, holding it before him.
"Will you not tell us, Mon Commandant," said another of the younger officers, "something more about the Eagle before we discuss its disposition ?" "I was a Sub-Lieutenant at Austerlitz," said Lestoype, only too anxious to comply.