white lies-第53章

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to　think；　it　looked　ugly；　but　while　she　lay　at　our　feet　insensible；　I　forced　the　truth　from　Rose；　she　owned　the　boy　was　hers。〃

While　Raynal　told　him　this　strange　story；　Camille　turned　hot　and　cold。　　First　came　a　thrill　of　glowing　joy；　he　had　some　clew　to　all　this：　he　was　a　father；　that　child　was　Josephine's　and　his；　the　next　moment　he　froze　within。　　So　Josephine　had　not　only　gulled　her　husband；　but　him；　too；　she　had　refused　him　the　sad　consolation　of　knowing　he　had　a　child。　　Cruelty；　calculation；　and　baseness　unexampled！　　Here　was　a　creature　who　could　sacrifice　anything　and　anybody　to　her　comfort；　to　the　peace　and　sordid　smoothness　of　her　domestic　life。　　She　stood　between　two　mena　thing。　　Between　two　truthsa　double　lie。

His　heart；　in　one　moment；　turned　against　her　like　a　stone。　　A　musket…bullet　through　the　body　does　not　turn　life　to　death　quicker　than　Raynal　turned　his　rival's　love　to　despair　and　scorn：　that　love　which　neither　wounds；　absence；　prison；　nor　even　her　want　of　constancy　had　prevailed　to　shake。

〃Out　of　my　bosom！〃　he　cried〃out　of　it；　in　this　world　and　the　next！〃

He　forgot；　in　his　lofty　rage；　who　stood　beside　him。

〃What？what？〃　cried　Raynal。

〃No　matter；〃　said　Camille；　〃only　I　esteem　YOU；　Raynal。　　You　are　truth；　you　are　a　man；　and　deserve　a　better　lot。〃

〃Don't　say　that；〃　replied　Raynal；　quite　misunderstanding　him。　　〃It　is　a　soldier's　end：　I　never　desired　nor　hoped　a　better：　only；　of　course；　I　feel　sad。　　You　are　a　happy　fellow；　to　have　a　child　and　to　live　to　see　it；　and　her　you　love。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　am　very　happy；〃　replied　the　poor　fellow；　his　lip　quivering。

〃Watch　over　all　those　poor　women；　comrade；　and　sometimes　speak　to　them　of　me。　　It　is　foolish；　but　we　like　to　be　remembered。〃

〃Yes！　but　do　not　let　us　speak　of　that。　　Raynal；　you　and　I　were　lieutenants　together；　do　you　remember　saving　my　life　in　the　Arno？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　promise　me；　if　you　should　live；　to　remember　not　our　quarrel　of　to…day；　nor　anything；　but　only　those　early　days；　AND　THIS　AFTERNOON。〃

〃I　do。〃

〃Your　hand；　comrade。〃

〃There；　comrade；　there。〃

They　wrung　one　another's　hands；　and　turned　away　and　hid　their　faces　from　each　other；　for　their　eyes　were　moist。

〃This　won't　do；　comrade；　I　must　go。　　I　shall　attack　from　your　position。　　So　I　shall　go　down　the　line；　and　bring　the　men　up。　Meantime；　pick　me　your　detachment。　　Give　me　a　good　spice　of　veterans。　　I　shall　get　one　word　with　you　before　we　go　out。　　God　bless　you！〃

〃God　bless　you；　Raynal！〃

The　moment　Raynal　was　gone；　Camille　beckoned　a　lieutenant　to　him；　and　ordered　half　the　brigade　to　form　in　a　strong　column　on　both　sides　Death's　Alley。

His　eye　fell　upon　private　Dard；　as　luck　would　have　it。　　〃Come　here；〃　said　he。　　Dard　came　and　saluted。

〃Have　you　anybody　at　Beaurepaire　that　would　be　sorry　if　you　were　killed？〃

〃Yes；　colonel！　　Jacintha；　that　used　to　make　your　broth；　colonel。〃

〃Take　this　line　to　Colonel　Raynal。　　You　will　find　him　with　the　12th　brigade。〃

He　wrote　a　few　lines　in　pencil；　folded　them；　and　Dard　went　off　with　them；　little　dreaming　that　the　colonel　of　his　brigade　was　taking　the　trouble　to　save　his　life；　because　he　came　from　Beaurepaire。　　Colonel　Dujardin　then　went　into　his　tent；　and　closed　the　aperture；　and　took　the　good　book　the　priest　had　given　him；　and　prayed　humbly；　and　forgave　all　the　world。

Then　he　sat　down；　his　head　in　his　hands；　and　thought　of　his　child；　and　how　hard　it　was　he　must　die　and　never　see　him。　　Then　he　lighted　a　candle；　and　sealed　up　his　orders　of　valor；　and　wrote　a　line；　begging　that　they　might　be　sent　to　his　sister。　　He　also　sealed　up　his　purse；　and　left　a　memorandum　that　the　contents　should　be　given　to　disabled　soldiers　of　his　brigade　upon　their　being　invalided。

Then　he　took　out　Josephine's　letter。　　〃Poor　coward；〃　he　said；　〃let　me　not　be　unkind。　　See；　I　burn　your　letter；　lest　it　should　be　found；　and　disturb　the　peace　you　prize　so　highly。　　I；　too；　shall　soon　be　at　peace。〃　　He　lighted　the　letter；　and　dropped　it　on　the　ground：　it　burned　slowly　away。　　He　eyed　it；　despairingly。　　〃Ay；〃　said　he；　〃you　perish；　last　record　of　an　unhappy　love：　and　even　so　pass　away　my　life；　my　hopes　of　glory；　and　my　dreams　of　love；　it　all　ends　to…day：　at　nine　and　twenty。〃

He　put　his　white　handkerchief　to　his　eyes。　　Josephine　had　given　it　him。　　He　cried　a　little。

When　he　had　done　crying；　he　put　his　white　handkerchief　in　his　bosom；　and　the　whole　man　was　transformed　beyond　language　to　express。　Powder　does　not　change　more　when　it　catches　fire。　　He　rose　that　moment　and　went　like　a　flash　of　lightning　out　of　the　tent。　　The　next；　he　came　down　between　the　lines　of　the　strong　column　that　stood　awaiting　orders　in　Death's　Alley。

〃Attention！〃　cried　the　sergeants；　〃the　colonel！〃

There　was　a　dead　silence；　for　the　bare　sight　of　that　erect　and　inspired　figure　made　the　men's　bosoms　thrill　with　the　certainty　of　great　deeds　to　come：　the　light　of　battle　was　in　his　eye。　　No　longer　the　moody　colonel；　but　a　thunderbolt　of　war；　red…hot；　and　waiting　to　be　launched。

〃Officers；　sergeants；　soldiers；　a　word　with　you！〃

La　Croix。　　Attention！

〃Do　you　know　what　passed　here　five　minutes　ago？〃

〃The　attack　of　the　bastion　was　settled！〃　cried　a　captain。

〃It　was；　and　who　was　to　lead　the　assault？　do　you　know　that？〃

〃No。〃

〃A　colonel　FROM　EGYPT。〃

At　that　there　was　a　groan　from　the　men。

〃With　detachments　from　the　other　brigades。〃

〃AH！〃　an　angry　roar。

Colonel　Dujardin　walked　quickly　down　between　the　two　lines；　looking　with　his　fiery　eye　into　the　men's　eyes　on　his　right。　　Then　he　came　back　on　the　other　side；　and；　as　he　went；　he　lighted　those　men's　eyes　with　his　own。　　It　was　a　torch　passing　along　a　line　of　ready　gas…　lights。

〃The　work　to　us！〃　he　cried　in　a　voice　like　a　clarion　（it　fired　the　hearts　as　his　eye　had　fired　the　eyes）〃The　triumph　to　strangers！　Our　fatigues　and　our　losses　have　not　gained　the　brigade　the　honor　of　going　out　at　those　fellows　that　have　killed　so　many　of　our　comrades。〃

A　fierce　groan　broke　from　the　men。

〃What！　shall　the　colors　of　another　brigade　and　not　ours　fly　from　that　bastion　this　afternoon？〃

〃No！　no！〃　in　a　roar　like　thunder。

〃Ah！　you　are　of　my　mind。　　Attention！　the　attack　is　fixed　for　five　o'clock。　　Suppose　you　and　I　were　to　carry　the　bastion　ten　minutes　before　the　colonel　from　Egypt　can　bring　his　men　upon　the　ground。〃

At　this　there　was　a　fierce　burst　of　joy　and　laughter；　the　strange　laughter　of　veterans　and　born　invincibles。　　Then　a　yell　of　exulting　assent；　accompanied　by　the　thunder　of　impatient　drums；　and　the　rattle　of　fixing　bayonets。

The　colonel　told　off　a　party　to　the　battery。

〃Level　the　guns　at　the　top　tier。　　Fire　at　my　signal；　and　keep　firing　over　our　heads；　till　you　see　our　colors　on　the　place。〃

He　then　darted　to　the　head　of　the　column；　which　instantly　formed　behind　him　in　the　centre　of　Death's　Alley。

〃The　colors！　　No　hand　but　mine　shall　hold　them　to…day。〃

They　were　instantly　brought　him：　his　left　hand　shook　them　free　in　the　afternoon　sun。

A　deep　murmur　of　joy　rolled　out　from　the　old　hands　at　the　now　unwonted　sight。　　Out　flashed　the　colonel's　sword　like　steel　lightning。　　He　pointed　to　the　battery。

Bang！　bang！　bang！　bang！　went　his　cannon；　and　the　smoke　rolled　over　the　trenches。　　At　the　same　moment　up　went　the　colors　waving；　and　the　colonel's　clarion　voice　pealed　high　above　all：

〃Twenty…fourth　brigadeFORWARD！〃

They　went　so　swiftly　out　of　the　trenches　that　they　were　not　seen　through　their　own　smoke　until　they　had　run　some　sixty　yards。　　As　soon　as　they　were　seen；　coming　on　like　devils　through　their　own　smoke；　two　thousand　muskets　were　levelled　at　them　from　the　Prussian　line。　　It　was　not　a　rattle　of　small　armsit　was　a　crash；　and　the　men　fell　fast：　but　in　a　moment　they　were　seen　to　spread　out　like　a　fan；　and　to　offer　less　mark；　and　when　the　fan　closed　again；　it　half　encircled　the　bastion。　　It　was　a　French　attack：　part　swarmed　at　it　in　front　like　bees；　part　swept　round　the　glacis　and　flanked　it。　They　were　seen　to　fall　in　numbers；　shot　down　from　the　embrasures。　But　the　living　took　the　place　of　the　dead：　and　the　fight　ranged　evenly　there。　　Where　are　the　colors？　　Towards　the　rear　there。　　The　colonel　and　a　hundred　men　are　fighting　hand　to　hand　with　the　Prussians；　who　have　charged　out　at　the　back　doors　of　the　bastion。　Success　there；　and　the　bastion　must　fallboth　sides　know　this。

The　colors　disappeared。　　There　was　a　groan　from　the　French　lines。　The　colors　reappeared；　and　close　under　the　bastion。

And　now　in　front　the　attack　was　so　hot；　that　often　the　Prussian　gunners　were　seen　to　jump　down；　driven　from　their　posts；　and　the　next　moment　a　fierce　hurrah　from　the　rear　told　that　the　French　had　won　some　great　advantage　there。　　The　fire　slackening　told　a　similar　tale　and　presently　down　came　the　Prussian　flag…staff。　　That　might　be　an　accident。　　A　few　moments　of　thirsting　expectation；　and　up　went　the　colors　of　the　24th　brigade　upon　the　Bastion　St。　Andre。

The　French　army　raised　a　shout　that　rent　the　sky；　and　their　cannon　began　to　play　on　the　Prussian　lines　and　between　the　bastion　and　the　nearest　fort；　to　prevent　a　recapture。

Sudden　there　shot　from　the　bastion　a　cubic　acre　of　fire：　it　carried　up　a　heavy　mountain　of　red　and　black　smoke　that　looked　solid　as　marble。　　There　was　a　heavy；　sullen；　tremendous　explosion　that　snuffed　out　the　sound　of　the　cannon；　and　paralyzed　the　French　and　Prussian　gunners'　hands；　and　checked　the　very　beating　of　their　hearts。　　Thirty　thousand　pounds　of　gunpowder　were　in　that　awful　explosion。　　War　itself　held　its　breath；　and　both　armies；　like　peaceable　spectators；　gazed　wonder…struck；　terror…struck。　　Great　hell　seemed　to　burst　through　the　earth's　crust；　and　to　be　rushing　at　heaven。　　Huge　stones；　cannons；　corpses；　and　limbs　of　soldiers；　were　seen　driven　or　falling　through　the　smoke。　　Some　of　these　last　came　quite　clear　of　the　ruins；　ay；　into　the　French　and　Prussian　lines；　that　even　the　veterans　put　their　hands　to　their　eyes。　　Raynal　felt　something　patter　on　him　from　the　skyit　was　blooda　comrade's　perhaps。


The　smoke　cleared。　　Where；　a　moment　before；　the　great　bastion　stood　and　fought；　was　a　monstrous　pile　of　blackened；　bloody　stones　and　timbers；　with　dismounted　cannon　sticking　up　here　and　there。

And；　rent　and　crushed　to　atoms　beneath　the　smoking　mass；　lay　the　relics　of　the　gallant　brigade；　and　their　victorious　colors。


CHAPTER　XXII。


A　few　wounded　soldiers　of　the　brigade　lay　still　till　dusk。　　Then　they　crept　back　to　the　trenches。　　These　had　all　been　struck　down　or　disabled　short　of　the　bastion。　　Of　those　that　had　taken　the　place　no　one　came　home。

Raynal；　after　the　first　stupefaction；　pressed　hard　and　even　angrily　for　an　immediate　assault　on　the　whole　Prussian　line。　　Not　they。　　It　was　on　paper　that　the　assault　should　be　at　daybreak　to…morrow。　　Such　leaders　as　they　were　cannot　IMPROVISE。

Rage　and　grief　in　his　heart；　Raynal　waited　chafing　in　the　trenches　till　five　minutes　past　midnight。　　He　then　became　commander　of　the　brigade；　gave　his　orders；　and　took　thirty　men　out　to　creep　up　to　the　wreck　of　the　bastion；　and　find　the　late　colonel's　body。

Going　for　so　pious　a　purpose；　he　was　rewarded　by　an　important　discovery。　　The　whole　Prussian　lines　had　been　abandoned　since　sunset；　and；　mounting　cautiously　on　the　ramparts；　Raynal　saw　the　town　too　was　evacuated；　an