white lies-第49章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃They　are　firing　on　my　brigade；〃　said　our　colonel。　　〃Who　has　led　his　company　there　against　my　orders？　　Captain　Neville；　into　the　battery；　and　fire　twenty　rounds　at　the　bastion！　　Aim　at　the　flashes　from　their　middle　tier。〃

〃Yes；　colonel。〃

The　battery　opened　with　all　its　guns　on　the　bastion。　　The　right　attack　followed　suit。　　The　town　answered；　and　a　furious　cannonade　roared　and　blazed　all　down　both　lines　till　daybreak。　　Hell　seemed　broken　loose。

Captain　Jullien　had　followed　the　flying　foe：　but　could　not　come　up　with　them：　and；　as　the　enemy　had　prepared　for　every　contingency；　the　fatal　bastion；　after　first　throwing　a　rocket　or　two　to　discover　their　position；　poured　showers　of　grape　into　them；　killed　many；　and　would　have　killed　more　but　that　Captain　Neville　and　his　gunners　happened　by　mere　accident　to　dismount　one　gun　and　to　kill　a　couple　of　gunners　at　the　others。　　This　gave　the　remains　of　the　company　time　to　disperse　and　run　back。　　When　the　men　were　mustered；　Captain　Jullien　and　twenty…five　of　his　company　did　not　answer　to　their　names。　　At　daybreak　they　were　visible　from　the　trenches　lying　all　by　themselves　within　eighty　yards　of　the　bastion。

A　flag　of　truce　came　from　the　fort：　the　dead　were　removed　on　both　sides　and　buried。　　Some　Prussian　officers　strolled　into　the　French　lines。　　Civilities　and　cigars　exchanged：　〃Bon　jour；〃　〃Gooten　daeg：〃　then　at　it　again；　ding　dong　all　down　the　line　blazing　and　roaring。

At　twelve　o'clock　the　besieged　had　got　a　man　on　horseback；　on　top　of　a　hill；　with　colored　flags　in　his　hand；　making　signals。

〃What　are　you　up　to　now？〃　inquired　Dard。

〃You　will　see；〃　said　La　Croix；　affecting　mystery；　he　knew　no　more　than　the　other。

Presently　off　went　Long　Tom　on　the　top　of　the　bastion；　and　the　shot　came　roaring　over　the　heads　of　the　speakers。

The　flags　were　changed；　and　off　went　Long　Tom　again　at　an　elevation。

Ten　seconds　had　scarcely　elapsed　when　a　tremendous　explosion　took　place　on　the　French　right。　　Long　Tom　was　throwing　red…hot　shot；　one　had　fallen　on　a　powder　wagon；　and　blown　it　to　pieces；　and　killed　two　poor　fellows　and　a　horse；　and　turned　an　artillery　man　at　some　distance　into　a　seeming　nigger；　but　did　him　no　great　harm；　only　took　him　three　days　to　get　the　powder　out　of　his　clothes　with　pipe　clay；　and　off　his　face　with　raw　potato…peel。

When　the　tumbril　exploded；　the　Prussians　could　be　heard　to　cheer；　and　they　turned　to　and　fired　every　iron　spout　they　owned。　　Long　Tom　worked　all　day。

They　got　into　a　corner　where　the　guns　of　the　battery　could　not　hit　them　or　him；　and　there　was　his　long　muzzle　looking　towards　the　sky；　and　sending　half　a　hundredweight　of　iron　up　into　the　clouds；　and　plunging　down　a　mile　off　into　the　French　lines。

And；　at　every　shot；　the　man　on　horseback　made　signals　to　let　the　gunners　know　where　the　shot　fell。

At　last；　about　four　in　the　afternoon；　they　threw　a　forty…eight…pound　shot　slap　into　the　commander…in…chief's　tent；　a　mile　and　a　half　behind　trenches。

Down　comes　a　glittering　aide…de…camp　as　hard　as　he　can　gallop。

〃Colonel　Dujardin；　what　are　you　about；　sir？　　YOUR　BASTION　has　thrown　a　round　shot　into　the　commander…in…chief's　tent。〃

The　colonel　did　not　appear　so　staggered　as　the　aide…de…camp　expected。

〃Ah；　indeed！〃　said　he　quietly。　　〃I　observed　they　were　trying　distances。〃

〃Must　not　happen　again；　colonel。　　You　must　drive　them　from　the　gun。〃

〃How？〃

〃Why；　where　is　the　difficulty？〃

〃If　you　will　do　me　the　honor　to　step　into　the　battery；　I　will　show　you；〃　said　the　colonel。

〃If　you　please；〃　said　the　aide…de…camp　stiffly。

Colonel　Dujardin　took　him　to　the　parapet；　and　began；　in　a　calm；　painstaking　way；　to　show　him　how　and　why　none　of　his　guns　could　be　brought　to　bear　upon　Long　Tom。

In　the　middle　of　the　explanation　a　melodious　sound　was　heard　in　the　air　above　them；　like　a　swarm　of　Brobdingnag　bees。

〃What　is　that？〃　inquired　the　aide…de…camp。

〃What？　　I　see　nothing。〃

〃That　humming　noise。〃

〃Oh；　that？　　Prussian　bullets。　　Ah；　by…the…by；　it　is　a　compliment　to　your　uniform；　monsieur；　they　take　you　for　some　one　of　importance。　Well；　as　I　was　observing〃

〃Your　explanation　is　sufficient；　colonel；　let　us　get　out　of　this。　Ha；　ha！　you　are　a　cool　hand；　colonel；　I　must　say。　　But　your　battery　is　a　warm　place　enough：　I　shall　report　it　so　at　headquarters。〃

The　grim　colonel　relaxed。

〃Captain；〃　said　he　politely；　〃you　shall　not　have　ridden　to　my　post　in　vain。　　Will　you　lend　me　your　horse　for　ten　minutes？〃

〃Certainly；　and　I　will　inspect　your　trenches　meantime。〃

〃Do　so；　oblige　me　by　avoiding　that　angle；　it　is　exposed；　and　the　enemy　have　got　the　range　to　an　inch。〃

Colonel　Dujardin　slipped　into　his　quarters；　off　with　his　half…dress　jacket　and　his　dirty　boots；　and　presently　out　he　came　full　fig；　glittering　brighter　than　the　other；　with　one　French　and　two　foreign　orders　shining　on　his　breast；　mounted　the　aide…de…camp's　horse；　and　away　full　pelt。

Admitted；　after　some　delay；　into　the　generalissimo's　tent；　Dujardin　found　the　old　gentleman　surrounded　by　his　staff　and　wroth：　nor　was　the　danger　to　which　he　had　been　exposed　his　sole　cause　of　ire。

The　shot　had　burst　through　his　canvas；　struck　a　table　on　which　was　a　large　inkstand；　and　had　squirted　the　whole　contents　over　the　despatches　he　was　writing　for　Paris。

Now　this　old　gentleman　prided　himself　upon　the　neatness　of　his　despatches：　a　blot　on　his　paper　darkened　his　soul。

Colonel　Dujardin　expressed　his　profound　regret。　　The　commander；　however；　continued　to　remonstrate。　　〃I　have　a　great　deal　of　writing　to　do；〃　said　he；　〃as　you　must　be　aware；　and；　when　I　am　writing；　I　expect　to　be　quiet。〃

Colonel　Dujardin　assented　respectfully　to　the　justice　of　this。　　He　then　explained　at　full　length　why　he　could　not　bring　a　gun　in　the　battery　to　silence　〃Long　Tom；〃　and　quietly　asked　to　be　permitted　to　run　a　gun　out　of　the　trenches；　and　take　a　shot　at　the　offender。

〃It　is　a　point…blank　distance；　and　I　have　a　new　gun；　with　which　a　man　ought　to　be　able　to　hit　his　own　ball　at　three　hundred　yards。〃

The　commander　hesitated。

〃I　cannot　have　the　men　exposed。〃

〃I　engage　not　to　lose　a　manexcept　him　who　fires　the　gun。　　HE　must　take　his　chance。〃

〃Well；　colonel；　it　must　be　done　by　volunteers。　　The　men　must　not　be　ORDERED　out　on　such　a　service　as　that。〃

Colonel　Dujardin　bowed；　and　retired。


〃Volunteers　to　go　out　of　the　trenches！〃　cried　Sergeant　La　Croix；　in　a　stentorian　voice；　standing　erect　as　a　poker；　and　swelling　with　importance。

There　were　fifty　offers　in　less　than　as　many　seconds。

〃Only　twelve　allowed　to　go；〃　said　the　sergeant；　〃and　I　am　one；〃　added　he；　adroitly　inserting　himself。

A　gun　was　taken　down；　placed　on　a　carriage；　and　posted　near　Death's　Alley；　but　out　of　the　line　of　fire。

The　colonel　himself　superintended　the　loading　of　this　gun；　and　to　the　surprise　of　the　men　had　the　shot　weighed　first；　and　then　weighed　out　the　powder　himself。

He　then　waited　quietly　a　long　time　till　the　bastion　pitched　one　of　its　periodical　shots　into　Death's　Alley；　but　no　sooner　had　the　shot　struck；　and　sent　the　sand　flying　past　the　two　lanes　of　curious　noses；　than　Colonel　Dujardin　jumped　upon　the　gun　and　waved　his　cocked　hat。　　At　this　preconcerted　signal；　his　battery　opened　fire　on　the　bastion；　and　the　battery　to　his　right　opened　on　the　wall　that　fronted　them；　and　the　colonel　gave　the　word　to　run　the　gun　out　of　the　trenches。　　They　ran　it　out　into　the　cloud　of　smoke　their　own　guns　were　belching　forth；　unseen　by　the　enemy；　but　they　had　no　sooner　twisted　it　into　the　line　of　Long　Tom；　than　the　smoke　was　gone；　and　there　they　were；　a　fair　mark。

〃Back　into　the　trenches；　all　but　one！〃　roared　Dujardin。

And　in　they　ran　like　rabbits。

〃Quick！　the　elevation。〃

Colonel　Dujardin　and　La　Croix　raised　the　muzzle　to　the　markhoo；　hoo；　hoo！　ping；　ping；　ping！　came　the　bullets　about　their　ears。

〃Away　with　you！〃　cried　the　colonel；　taking　the　linstock　from　him。

Then　Colonel　Dujardin；　fifteen　yards　from　the　trenches；　in　full　blazing　uniform；　showed　two　armies　what　one　intrepid　soldier　can　do。　He　kneeled　down　and　adjusted　his　gun；　just　as　he　would　have　done　in　a　practising　ground。　　He　had　a　pot　shot　to　take；　and　a　pot　shot　he　would　take。　　He　ignored　three　hundred　muskets　that　were　levelled　at　him。　　He　looked　along　his　gun；　adjusted　it；　and　re…adjusted　it　to　a　hair's　breadth。　　The　enemy's　bullets　pattered　upon　it：　still　he　adjusted　it　delicately。　　His　men　were　groaning　and　tearing　their　hair　inside　at　his　danger。

At　last　it　was　levelled　to　his　mind；　and　then　his　movements　were　as　quick　as　they　had　hitherto　been　slow。　　In　a　moment　he　stood　erect　in　the　half…fencing　attitude　of　a　gunner；　and　his　linstock　at　the　touch…hole：　a　huge　tongue　of　flame；　a　volume　of　smoke；　a　roar；　and　the　iron　thunderbolt　was　on　its　way；　and　the　colonel　walked　haughtily　but　rapidly　back　to　the　trenches；　for　in　all　this　no　bravado。　　He　was　there　to　make　a　shot；　not　to　throw　a　chance　of　life　away　watching　the　effect。

Ten　thousand　eyes　did　that　for　him。

Both　French　and　Prussians　risked　their　own　lives　craning　out　to　see　what　a　colonel　in　full　uniform　was　doing　under　fire　from　a　whole　line　of　forts；　and　what　would　be　his　fate；　but　when　he　fired　the　gun　their　curiosity　left　the　man　and　followed　the　iron　thunderbolt。

For　two　seconds　all　was　uncertain；　the　ball　was　travelling。

Tom　gave　a　rear　like　a　wild　horse；　his　protruding　muzzle　went　up　sky…high；　then　was　seen　no　more；　and　a　ring　of　old　iron　and　a　clatter　of　fragments　was　heard　on　the　top　of　the　bastion。　　Long　Tom　was　dismounted。　　Oh！　the　roar　of　laughter　and　triumph　from　one　end　to　another　of　the　trenches；　and　the　clapping　of　forty　thousand　hands　that　went　on　for　full　five　minutes；　then　the　Prussians；　either　through　a　burst　of　generous　praise　for　an　act　so　chivalrous　and　so　brilliant；　or　because　they　would　not　be　crowed　over；　clapped　their　tea　thousand　hands　as　loudly；　and　thus　thundering；　heart…thrilling　salvo　of　applause　answered　salvo　on　both　sides　that　terrible　arena。

That　evening　came　a　courteous　and　flattering　message　from　the　commander…in…chief　to　Colonel　Dujardin；　and　several　officers　visited　his　quarters　to　look　at　him；　they　went　back　disappointed。　　The　cry　was；　〃What　a　miserable；　melancholy　dog！　　I　expected　to　see　a　fine；　dashing　fellow。〃


The　trenches　neared　the　town。　　Colonel　Dujardin's　mine　was　far　advanced；　the　end　of　the　chamber　was　within　a　few　yards　of　the　bastion。　　Of　late；　the　colonel　had　often　visited　this　mine　in　person。　　He　seemed　a　little　uneasy　about　something　in　that　quarter；　but　no　one　knew　what：　he　was　a　silent　man。　　The　third　evening；　after　he　dismounted　Long　Tom；　he　received　private　notice　that　an　order　was　coming　down　from　the　commander…in…chief　to　assault　the　bastion。　　He　shrugged　his　shoulders；　but　said　nothing。　　That　same　night　the　colonel　and　one　of　his　lieutenants　stole　out　of　the　trenches；　and　by　the　help　of　a　pitch…dark；　windy　night；　got　under　the　bastion　unperceived；　and　crept　round　it；　and　made　their　observations；　and　got　safe　back。　　About　noon　down　came　General　Raimbaut。

〃Well；　colonel；　you　are　to　have　your　way　at　last。　　Your　bastion　is　to　be　stormed　this　afternoon　previous　to　the　general　assault。　　Why；　how　is　this？　you　don't　seem　enchanted？〃

〃I　am　not。〃

〃Why；　it　was　you　who　pressed　for　the　assault。〃

〃At　the　righ