the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第16章
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closely watched by the guerillas。 I reckoned out the distance upon a map。
There were ten miles of open country to be crossed before reaching the
hills。 Then came a belt of forest on the lower slopes of the mountain；
which may have been three or four miles wide。 And then there was the
actual peak itself； of no very great height； but without any cover to conceal
me。 Those were the three stages of my journey。
It seemed to me that once I had reached the shelter of the wood all
would be easy； for I could lie concealed within its shadows and climb
upward under the cover of night。
From eight till twelve would give me four hours of darkness in which
to make the ascent。 It was only the first stage； then； which I had
seriously to consider。
Over that flat country there lay the inviting white road； and I
remembered that my comrades had both taken their horses。 That was
clearly their ruin； for nothing could be easier than for the brigands to keep
watch upon the road； and to lay an ambush for all who passed along it。 It
would not be difficult for me to ride across country； and I was well horsed
at that time； for I had not only Violette and Rataplan； who were two of the
finest mounts in the army； but I had the splendid black English hunter
which I had taken from Sir Cotton。 However； after much thought； I
determined to go upon foot； since I should then be in a better state to take
advantage of any chance which might offer。 As to my dress； I covered
my Hussar uniform with a long cloak； and I put a grey forage cap upon my
head。 You may ask me why I did not dress as a peasant； but I answer that
a man of honour has no desire to die the death of a spy。 It is one thing to
be murdered； and it is another to be justly executed by the laws of war。 I
would not run the risk of such an end。
In the late afternoon I stole out of the camp and passed through the
line of our pickets。 Beneath my cloak I had a field…glass and a pocket
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pistol； as well as my sword。 In my pocket were tinder； flint； and steel。
For two or three miles I kept under cover of the vineyards； and made
such good progress that my heart was high within me； and I thought to
myself that it only needed a man of some brains to take the matter in hand
to bring it easily to success。 Of course； Cortex and Duplessis galloping
down the high…road would be easily seen； but the intelligent Gerard
lurking among the vines was quite another person。 I dare say I had got as
far as five miles before I met any check。 At that point there is a small
wine…house； round which I perceived some carts and a number of people；
the first that I had seen。 Now that I was well outside the lines I knew that
every person was my enemy； so I crouched lower while I stole along to a
point from which I could get a better view of what was going on。 I then
perceived that these people were peasants； who were loading two waggons
with empty wine… casks。 I failed to see how they could either help or
hinder me； so I continued upon my way。
But soon I understood that my task was not so simple as had appeared。
As the ground rose the vineyards ceased； and I came upon a stretch of
open country studded with low hills。 Crouching in a ditch I examined
them with a glass； and I very soon perceived that there was a watcher upon
every one of them； and that these people had a line of pickets and outposts
thrown forward exactly like our own。 I had heard of the discipline which
was practised by this scoundrel whom they called 〃The Smiler；〃 and this；
no doubt； was an example of it。
Between the hills there was a cordon of sentries； and though I worked
some distance round to the flank I still found myself faced by the enemy。
It was a puzzle what to do。
There was so little cover that a rat could hardly cross without being
seen。 Of course； it would be easy enough to slip through at night； as I
had done with the English at Torres Vedras； but I was still far from the
mountain and I could not in that case reach it in time to light the midnight
beacon。 I lay in my ditch and I made a thousand plans； each more
dangerous than the last。 And then suddenly I had that flash of light
which comes to the brave man who refuses to despair。
You remember I have mentioned that two waggons were loading up
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with empty casks at the inn。 The heads of the oxen were turned to the
east； and it was evident that those waggons were going in the direction
which I desired。 Could I only conceal myself upon one of them； what
better and easier way could I find of passing through the lines of the
guerillas？ So simple and so good was the plan that I could not restrain a
cry of delight as it crossed my mind； and I hurried away instantly in the
direction of the inn。 There； from behind some bushes； I had a good look
at what was going on upon the road。
There were three peasants with red montero caps loading the barrels；
and they had completed one waggon and the lower tier of the other。 A
number of empty barrels still lay outside the wine…house waiting to be put
on。
Fortune was my friendI have always said that she is a woman and
cannot resist a dashing young Hussar。 As I watched； the three fellows
went into the inn； for the day was hot and they were thirsty after their
labour。 Quick as a flash I darted out from my hiding…place； climbed on to
the waggon； and crept into one of the empty casks。
It had a bottom but no top； and it lay upon its side with the open end
inward。 There I crouched like a dog in its kennel； my knees drawn up to
my chin； for the barrels were not very large and I am a well…grown man。
As I lay there； out came the three peasants again； and presently I heard a
crash upon the top of me which told that I had another barrel above me。
They piled them upon the cart until I could not imagine how I was ever to
get out again。 However； it is time to think of crossing the Vistula when
you are over the Rhine； and I had no doubt that if chance and my own wits
had carried me so far they would carry me farther。
Soon； when the waggon was full； they set forth upon their way； and I
within my barrel chuckled at every step； for it was carrying me whither I
wished to go。 We travelled slowly； and the peasants walked beside the
waggons。
This I knew； because I heard their voices close to me。 They seemed to
me to be very merry fellows； for they laughed heartily as they went。
What the joke was I could not understand。 Though I speak their
language fairly well I could not hear anything comic in the scraps of their
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conversation which met my ear。
I reckoned that at the rate of walking of a team of oxen we covered
about two miles an hour。 Therefore； when I was sure that two and a half
hours had passed such hours； my friends； cramped； suffocated； and
nearly poisoned with the fumes of the leeswhen they had passed； I was
sure that the dangerous open country was behind us； and that we were
upon the edge of the forest and the mountain。 So now I had to turn my
mind upon how I was to get out of my barrel。 I had thought of several
ways； and was balancing one against the other when the question was
decided for me in a very simple but unexpected manner。
The waggon stopped suddenly with a jerk； and I heard a number of
gruff voices in excited talk。 〃Where； where？〃 cried one。 〃On our cart；〃
said another。 〃Who is he？〃 said a third。 〃A French officer； I saw his
cap and his boots。〃 They all roared with laughter。 〃I was looking out of
the window of the posada and I saw him spring into the cask like a
toreador with a Seville bull at his heels。〃 〃Which cask； then？〃 〃It was
this one；〃 said the fellow； and sure enough his fist struck the wood beside
my head。
What a situation； my friends； for a man of my standing！
I blush now； after forty years； when I think of it。
To be trussed like a fowl and to listen helplessly to the rude laughter of
these boorsto know； too； that my mission had come to an ignominious
and even ridiculous end I would have blessed the man who would have
sent a bullet through the cask and freed me from my misery。
I heard the crashing of the barrels as they hurled them off the waggon；
and then a couple of bearded faces and the muzzles of two guns looked in
at me。 They seized me by the sleeves of my coat； and they dragged me
out into the daylight。 A strange figure I must have looked as I stood
blinking and gaping in the blinding sunlight。
My body was bent like a cripple's； for I could not straighten my stiff
joints； and half my coat was as red as an English soldier's from the lees in
which I had lain。
They laughed and laughed； these dogs； and as I tried to express by my
bearing and gestures the contempt in which I held them their laughter
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grew all the louder。 But even in these hard circumstances I bore myself
like the man I am； and as I cast my eye slowly round I did not find that
any of the laughers were very ready to face it。
That one glance round was enough to tell me exactly how I was
situa
