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no peace till the order of attack and de- fence was settled Bonaparte again took the care of directing our motions; and by turns, at the head of assailants and op- ponents he learned betimes from these useful games, to unite address with courage Snowballs were the weapons of both par- ties, and the wounds they gave, not being mortal our masters saw our diversions with- out alarm ; they even had the good sense to encourage them by applauding those who distinguished themselves whether by:; their courage or by some new stratagem Bonaparte already fertile in expedients found means to keep up the diversion by devising, every day some new manœuvres but the fun of the month of March disturbed our amusements, and put an end to them till the winter.
Such was the school, and such the first essay of the young hero, who, since, at the: head of a new raised army, without discip- line and almost without confidence has; known how to conquer the bravest troops of Europe. and disconcert the measures the most experienced Generals. Eager to gain the approbation of his young rivals it was as in these juvenile plays that he first learned the way to conquer; from them sprung that warlike enthusiasm, winch af- forded the first display of his great genius. Kindled into admiration of the heroes of
