white lies-第48章

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safe　from　his　visits。

Very　annoying。　　But；　after　awhile；　it　led　to　keen　watchfulness：　the　more　so　that　the　sad　and　gloomy　colonel　showed　by　his　manner　he　appreciated　it。　　Indeed；　one　night　he　even　opened　his　marble　jaws；　and　told　Sergeant　La　Croix　that　a　watchful　sentry　was　an　important　soldier；　not　to　his　brigade　only；　but　to　the　whole　army。　　Judge　whether　the　maxim　and　the　implied　encomium　did　not　circulate　next　morning；　with　additions。

Sixteenth　day　of　the　siege。　　The　round　bastion　opened　fire　at　eight　o'clock；　not　on　the　opposing　battery；　but　on　the　right　of　the　French　attack。　　Its　advanced　position　enabled　a　portion　of　its　guns　to　rake　these　trenches　slant…wise：　and　depressing　its　guns　it　made　the　round　shot　strike　the　ground　first　and　ricochet　over。

On　this　our　colonel　opened　on　them　with　all　his　guns：　one　of　these　he　served　himself。　　Among　his　other　warlike　accomplishments；　he　was　a　wonderful　shot　with　a　cannon。　　He　showed　them　capital　practice　this　morning：　drove　two　embrasures　into　one；　and　knocked　about　a　ton　of　masonry　off　the　parapet。　　Then　taking　advantage　of　this；　he　served　two　of　his　guns　with　grape；　and　swept　the　enemy　off　the　top　of　the　bastion；　and　kept　it　clear。　　He　made　it　so　hot　they　could　not　work　the　upper　guns。　　Then　they　turned　the　other　two　tiers　all　upon　him；　and　at　it　both　sides　went　ding；　dong；　till　the　guns　were　too　hot　to　be　worked。　　So　then　Sergeant　La　Croix　popped　his　head　up　from　the　battery；　and　showed　the　enemy　a　great　white　plate。　　This　was　meant　to　convey　to　them　an　invitation　to　dine　with　the　French　army：　the　other　side　of　the　table　of　course。

To　the　credit　of　Prussian　intelligence　be　it　recorded；　that　this　pantomimic　hint　was　at　once　taken　and　both　sides　went　to　dinner。

The　fighting　colonel；　however；　remained　in　the　battery；　and　kept　a　detachment　of　his　gunners　employed　cooling　the　guns　and　repairing　the　touch…holes。　　He　ordered　his　two　cutlets　and　his　glass　of　water　into　the　battery。

Meantime；　the　enemy　fired　a　single　gun　at　long　intervals；　as　much　as　to　say；　〃We　had　the　last　word。〃

Let　trenches　be　cut　ever　so　artfully；　there　will　be　a　little　space　exposed　here　and　there　at　the　angles。　　These　spaces　the　men　are　ordered　to　avoid；　or　whip　quickly　across　them　into　cover。

Now　the　enemy　had　just　got　the　range　of　one　of　these　places　with　their　solitary　gun；　and　had　already　dropped　a　couple　of　shot　right　on　to　it。　　A　camp　follower　with　a　tray；　two　cutlets；　and　a　glass　of　water；　came　to　this　open　space　just　as　a　puff　of　white　smoke　burst　from　the　bastion。　　Instead　of　instantly　seeking　shelter　till　the　shot　had　struck；　he；　in　his　inexperience；　thought　the　shot　must　have　struck；　and　all　danger　be　over。　　He　stayed　there　mooning　instead　of　pelting　under　cover：　the　shot　（eighteen…pound）　struck　him　right　on　the　breast；　knocked　him　into　spilikins；　and　sent　the　mutton　cutlets　flying。

The　human　fragments　lay　quiet；　ten　yards　off。　　But　a　soldier　that　was　eating　his　dinner　kicked　it　over；　and　jumped　up　at　the　side　of　〃Death's　Alley〃　（as　it　was　christened　next　minute）；　and　danced　and　yelled　with　pain。

〃Haw！　haw！　haw！〃　roared　a　soldier　from　the　other　side　of　the　alley。

〃What　is　that？〃　cried　Sergeant　La　Croix。　　〃What　do　you　laugh　at；　Private　Cadel？〃　said　he　sternly；　for；　though　he　was　too　far　in　the　trench　to　see；　he　had　heard　that　horrible　sound　a　soldier　knows　from　every　other；　the　〃thud〃　of　a　round　shot　striking　man　or　horse。

〃Sergeant；〃　said　Cadel；　respectfully；　〃I　laugh　to　see　Private　Dard；　that　got　the　wind　of　the　shot；　dance　and　sing；　when　the　man　that　got　the　shot　itself　does　not　say　a　word。〃

〃The　wind　of　the　shot；　you　rascal！〃　roared　Private　Dard：　〃look　here！〃　and　he　showed　the　blood　running　down　his　face。

The　shot　had　actually　driven　a　splinter　of　bone　out　of　the　sutler　into　Dard's　temple。

〃I　am　the　unluckiest　fellow　in　the　army；〃　remonstrated　Dard：　and　he　stamped　in　a　circle。

〃Seems　to　me　you　are　only　the　second　unluckiest　this　time；〃　said　a　young　soldier　with　his　mouth　full；　and；　with　a　certain　dry　humor；　he　pointed　vaguely　over　his　shoulder　with　the　fork　towards　the　corpse。

The　trenches　laughed　and　assented。

This　want　of　sympathy　and　justice　irritated　Dard。　　〃You　cursed　fools！〃　cried　he。　　〃He　is　gone　where　we　must　all　gowithout　any　trouble。　　But　look　at　me。　　I　am　always　getting　barked。　　Dogs　of　Prussians！　they　pick　me　out　among　a　thousand。　　I　shall　have　a　headache　all　the　afternoon；　you　see　else。〃

Some　of　our　heads　would　never　have　ached　again：　but　Dard　had　a　good　thick　skull。

Dard　pulled　out　his　spilikin　savagely。

〃I'll　wrap　it　up　in　paper　for　Jacintha；〃　said　he。　　〃Then　that　will　learn　her　what　a　poor　soldier　has　to　go　through。〃

Even　this　consolation　was　denied　Private　Dard。

Corporal　Coriolanus　Gand；　a　bit　of　an　infidel　from　Lyons；　who　sometimes　amused　himself　with　the　Breton's　superstition；　told　him　with　a　grave　face；　that　the　splinter　belonged　not　to　him；　but　to　the　sutler；　and；　though　so　small；　was　doubtless　a　necessary　part　of　his　frame。

〃If　you　keep　that；　it　will　be　a　bone　of　contention　between　you　two；〃

said　he；　〃especially　at　midnight。　　HE　WILL　BE　ALWAYS　COMING　BACK　TO　YOU　FOR　IT。〃

〃There；　take　it　away！〃　said　the　Breton　hastily；　〃and　bury　it　with　the　poor　fellow。〃

Sergeant　La　Croix　presented　himself　before　the　colonel　with　a　rueful　face　and　saluted　him　and　said；　〃Colonel；　I　beg　a　thousand　pardons；　your　dinner　has　been　spilta　shot　from　the　bastion。〃

〃No　matter；〃　said　the　colonel。　　〃Give　me　a　piece　of　bread　instead。〃

La　Croix　went　for　it　himself；　and　on　his　return　found　Cadel　sitting　on　one　side　of　Death's　Alley；　and　Dard　with　his　head　bound　up　on　the　other。　　They　had　got　a　bottle　which　each　put　up　in　turn　wherever　he　fancied　the　next　round　shot　would　strike；　and　they　were　betting　their　afternoon　rations　which　would　get　the　Prussians　to　hit　the　bottle　first。

La　Croix　pulled　both　their　ears　playfully。

〃Time　is　up　for　playing　marbles；〃　said　he。　　〃Be　off；　and　play　at　duty；〃　and　he　bundled　them　into　the　battery。


It　was　an　hour　past　midnight：　a　cloudy　night。　　The　moon　was　up；　but　seen　only　by　fitful　gleams。　　A　calm；　peaceful　silence　reigned。

Dard　was　sentinel　in　the　battery。

An　officer　going　his　rounds　found　the　said　sentinel　flat　instead　of　vertical。　　He　stirred　him　with　his　scabbard；　and　up　jumped　Dard。

〃It's　all　right；　sergeant。　　O　Lord！　it's　the　colonel。　　I　wasn't　asleep；　colonel。〃

〃I　have　not　accused　you。　　But　you　will　explain　what　you　were　doing。〃

〃Colonel；〃　said　Dard；　all　in　a　flutter；　〃I　was　taking　a　squint　at　them；　because　I　saw　something。　　The　beggars　are　building　a　wall；　now。〃

〃Where？〃

〃Between　us　and　the　bastion。〃

〃Show　me。〃

〃I　can't；　colonel；　the　moon　has　gone　in；　but　I　did　see　it。〃

〃How　long　was　it？〃

〃About　a　hundred　yards。〃

〃How　high？〃

〃Colonel；　it　was　ten　feet　high　if　it　was　an　inch。〃

〃Have　you　good　sight？〃

〃La！　colonel；　wasn't　I　a　bit　of　a　poacher　before　I　took　to　the　bayonet？〃

〃Good！　　Now　reflect。　　If　you　persist　in　this　statement；　I　turn　out　the　brigade　on　your　information。〃

〃I'll　stand　the　fire　of　a　corporal's　guard　at　break　of　day　if　I　make　a　mistake　now；〃　said　Dard。

The　colonel　glided　away；　called　his　captain　and　first　lieutenants；　and　said　two　words　in　each　ear；　that　made　them　spring　off　their　backs。

Dard；　marching　to　an　fro；　musket　on　shoulder；　found　himself　suddenly　surrounded　by　grim；　silent；　but　deadly　eager　soldiers；　that　came　pouring　like　bees　into　the　open　space　behind　the　battery。　　The　officers　came　round　the　colonel。

〃Attend　to　two　things；〃　said　he　to　the　captains。　　〃Don't　fire　till　they　are　within　ten　yards：　and　don't　follow　them　unless　I　lead　you。〃

The　men　were　then　told　off　by　companies；　some　to　the　battery；　some　to　the　trenches；　some　were　kept　on　each　side　Death's　Alley；　ready　for　a　rush。

They　were　not　all　of　them　in　position；　when　those　behind　the　parapet　saw；　as　it　were；　something　deepen　the　gloom　of　night；　some　fourscore　yards　to　the　front：　it　was　like　a　line　of　black　ink　suddenly　drawn　upon　a　sheet　covered　with　Indian　ink。

It　seems　quite　stationary。　　The　novices　wondered　what　it　was。　　The　veterans　muttered〃Three　deep。〃

Though　it　looked　stationary；　it　got　blacker　and　blacker。　　The　soldiers　of　the　24th　brigade　griped　their　muskets　hard；　and　set　their　teeth；　and　the　sergeants　had　much　ado　to　keep　them　quiet。

All　of　a　sudden；　a　loud　yell　on　the　right　of　the　brigade；　two　or　three　single　shots　from　the　trenches　in　that　direction；　followed　by　a　volley；　the　cries　of　wounded　men；　and　the　fierce　hurrahs　of　an　attacking　party。

Our　colonel　knew　too　well　those　sounds：　the　next　parallel　had　been　surprised；　and　the　Prussian　bayonet　was　now　silently　at　work。

Disguise　was　now　impossible。　　At　the　first　shot；　a　guttural　voice　in　front　of　Dujardin's　men　was　heard　to　give　a　word　of　command。　　There　was　a　sharp　rattle　and　in　a　moment　the　thick　black　line　was　tipped　with　glittering　steel。

A　roar　and　a　rush；　and　the　Prussian　line　three　deep　came　furiously　like　a　huge　steel…pointed　wave；　at　the　French　lines。　　A　tremendous　wave　of　fire　rushed　out　to　meet　that　wave　of　steel：　a　crash　of　two　hundred　muskets；　and　all　was　still。　　Then　you　could　see　through　the　black　steel…tipped　line　in　a　hundred　frightful　gaps；　and　the　ground　sparkled　with　bayonets　and　the　air　rang　with　the　cries　of　the　wounded。

A　tremendous　cheer　from　the　brigade；　and　the　colonel　charged　at　the　head　of　his　column；　out　by　Death's　Alley。

The　broken　wall　was　melting　away　into　the　night。　　The　colonel　wheeled　his　men　to　the　right：　one　company；　led　by　the　impetuous　young　Captain　Jullien；　followed　the　flying　enemy。

The　other　attack　had　been　only　too　successful。　　They　shot　the　sentries；　and　bayoneted　many　of　the　soldiers　in　their　tents：　others　escaped　by　running　to　the　rear；　and　some　into　the　next　parallel。

Several；　half　dressed；　snatched　up　their　muskets；　killed　one　Prussian；　and　fell　riddled　like　sieves。

A　gallant　officer　got　a　company　together　into　the　place　of　arms　and　formed　in　line。

Half　the　Prussian　force　went　at　them；　the　rest　swept　the　trenches：　the　French　company　delivered　a　deadly　volley；　and　the　next　moment　clash　the　two　forces　crossed　bayonets；　and　a　silent　deadly　stabbing　match　was　played：　the　final　result　of　which　was　inevitable。　　The　Prussians　were　five　to　one。　　The　gallant　officer　and　the　poor　fellows　who　did　their　duty　so　stoutly；　had　no　thought　left　but　to　die　hard；　when　suddenly　a　roaring　cheer　seemed　to　come　from　the　rear　rank　of　the　enemy。　　〃France！　France！〃　　Half　the　24th　brigade　came　leaping　and　swarming　over　the　trenches　in　the　Prussian　rear。　　The　Prussians　wavered。　　〃France！〃　cried　the　little　party　that　were　being　overpowered；　and　charged　in　their　turn　with　such　fury　that　in　two　seconds　the　two　French　corps　went　through　the　enemy's　centre　like　paper；　and　their　very　bayonets　clashed　together　in　more　than　one　Prussian　body。

Broken　thus　in　two　fragments　the　Prussian　corps　ceased　to　exist　as　a　military　force。　　The　men　fled　each　his　own　way　back　to　the　fort；　and　many　flung　away　their　muskets；　for　French　soldiers　were　swarming　in　from　all　quarters。　　At　this　moment；　bang！　bang！　bang！　from　the　bastion。

〃They　are　firing　on　my　brigade；〃　said　our　colonel。　　〃Who　has　led　his　company　there　against　my　orders？　　Captain　Neville；　into