Soissons, a town northeast of Paris

7. garde -barrière, gate-keeper. In France ail railroad crossings are protected by a gâte.

Page 26. — 1. y aura du tabac, soldier's slang; there will be a hard fight.

2. ce sacré Bourget, that accursed Bourget — a village north of Paris in which two bloody battles were fought, 28th to 3oth of October and December 21, 1870.

Page 27. - verve faubourienne, coarse Parisian voit.

Page 28. — 1. au Marais, a part of the third and fourth districts of Paris, inhabited mainly by the middle class. It comprises the island on which the cathedral of Notre-Dame stands, and takes its name from the former marshy condition of the soil.

2. grand . . . Cf. page 24, note 6. Little Stenne does not as yet know the name of his companion.

3. F ... le camp! Cet away from hère! A rather coarse expression.

4. Bas chôli, ça . . . Bas chôli = pas joli ça . . . pas joli; so spelt to render the German accent in pronouncing French.

Page 29. — i. la Courneuve, a small village north of Paris.

2. canal, the St. Martin canal, now completely vaulted over but still in constant use, is hère meant.