the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第33章
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the floor on to the struggling Englishman。 In an instant I was out in the
courtyard； had led Violette from her stable； and was on her back。 A pistol
bullet whizzed past my shoulder from the window； and I saw a furious
face looking out at me。 I smiled my contempt and spurred out into the
road。 The last of the Prussians had passed； and both my road and my
duty lay clear before me。 If France won； all well。 If France lost； then
on me and my little mare depended that which was more than victory or
defeatthe safety and the life of the Emperor。 〃On； Etienne； on！〃 I cried。
〃Of all your noble exploits； the greatest； even if it be the last； lies now
before you！〃
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II。 THE STORY OF THE NINE PRUSSIAN
HORSEMEN
I told you when last we met； my friends； of the important mission from
the Emperor to Marshal Grouchy； which failed through no fault of my own；
and I described to you how during a long afternoon I was shut up in the
attic of a country inn； and was prevented from coming out because the
Prussians were all around me。 You will remember also how I overheard
the Chief of the Prussian Staff give his instructions to Count Stein； and so
learned the dangerous plan which was on foot to kill or capture the
Emperor in the event of a French defeat。 At first I could not have
believed in such a thing； but since the guns had thundered all day； and
since the sound had made no advance in my direction； it was evident that
the English had at least held their own and beaten off all our attacks。
I have said that it was a fight that day between the soul of France and
the beef of England； but it must be confessed that we found the beef was
very tough。 It was clear that if the Emperor could not defeat the English
when alone； then it might； indeed； go hard with him now that sixty
thousand of these cursed Prussians were swarming on his flank。 In any
case； with this secret in my possession； my place was by his side。
I had made my way out of the inn in the dashing manner which I have
described to you when last we met； and I left the English aide…de…camp
shaking his foolish fist out of the window。 I could not but laugh as I
looked back at him； for his angry red face was framed and frilled with hay。
Once out on the road I stood erect in my stirrups； and I put on the
handsome black riding… coat； lined with red； which had belonged to him。
It fell to the top of my high boots； and covered my tell…tale uniform
completely。 As to my busby； there are many such in the German service；
and there was no reason why it should attract attention。 So long as no
one spoke to me there was no reason why I should not ride through the
whole of the Prussian army； but though I understood German； for I had
many friends among the German ladies during the pleasant years that I
fought all over that country； still I spoke it with a pretty Parisian accent
which could not be confounded with their rough； unmusical speech。 I
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knew that this quality of my accent would attract attention； but I could
only hope and pray that I would be permitted to go my way in silence。
The Forest of Paris was so large that it was useless to think of going
round it； and so I took my courage in both hands and galloped on down the
road in the track of the Prussian army。 It was not hard to trace it； for it
was rutted two feet deep by the gun…wheels and the caissons。 Soon I
found a fringe of wounded men； Prussians and French； on each side of it；
where Bulow's advance had come into touch with Marbot's Hussars。 One
old man with a long white beard； a surgeon； I suppose； shouted at me； and
ran after me still shouting； but I never turned my head and took no notice
of him save to spur on faster。 I heard his shouts long after I had lost sight
of him among the trees。
Presently I came up with the Prussian reserves。 The infantry were
leaning on their muskets or lying exhausted on the wet ground； and the
officers stood in groups listening to the mighty roar of the battle and
discussing the reports which came from the front。 I hurried past at the
top of my speed； but one of them rushed out and stood in my path with his
hand up as a signal to me to stop。 Five thousand Prussian eyes were
turned upon me。 There was a moment！ You turn pale； my friends； at
the thought of it。 Think how every hair upon me stood on end。 But
never for one instant did my wits or my courage desert me。 〃General
Blucher！〃 I cried。 Was it not my guardian angel who whispered the
words in my ear？ The Prussian sprang from my path； saluted； and
pointed forward。 They are well disciplined； these Prussians； and who
was he that he should dare to stop the officer who bore a message to the
general？
It was a talisman that would pass me out of every danger； and my heart
sang within me at the thought。 So elated was I that I no longer waited to
be asked； but as I rode through the army I shouted to right and left；
〃General Blucher！ General Blucher！〃 and every man pointed me
onward and cleared a path to let me pass。
There are times when the most supreme impudence is the highest
wisdom。 But discretion must also be used； and I must admit that I
became indiscreet。 For as I rode upon my way； ever nearer to the
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fighting line； a Prussian officer of Uhlans gripped my bridle and pointed to
a group of men who stood near a burning farm。 〃There is Marshal
Blucher。 Deliver your message！〃 said he； and sure enough； my terrible
old grey…whiskered veteran was there within a pistol…shot； his eyes turned
in my direction。
But the good guardian angel did not desert me。
Quick as a flash there came into my memory the name of the general
who commanded the advance of the Prussians。
｛illust。 caption = 〃There is Marshal Blucher。 Deliver your
message！〃｝
〃General Bulow！〃 I cried。 The Uhlan let go my bridle。 〃General
Bulow！ General Bulow！〃 I shouted； as every stride of the dear little mare
took me nearer my own people。 Through the burning village of
Planchenoit I galloped； spurred my way between two columns of Prussian
infantry； sprang over a hedge； cut down a Silesian Hussar who flung
himself before me； and an instant afterward； with my coat flying open to
show the uniform below； I passed through the open files of the tenth of the
line； and was back in the heart of Lobau's corps once more。
Outnumbered and outflanked； they were being slowly driven in by the
pressure of the Prussian advance。 I galloped onward； anxious only to
find myself by the Emperor's side。
But a sight lay before me which held me fast as though I had been
turned into some noble equestrian statue。 I could not move； I could
scarce breathe； as I gazed upon it。 There was a mound over which my
path lay； and as I came out on the top of it I looked down the long； shallow
valley of Waterloo。 I had left it with two great armies on either side and
a clear field between them。 Now there were but long； ragged fringes of
broken and exhausted regiments upon the two ridges； but a real army of
dead and wounded lay between。 For two miles in length and half a mile
across the ground was strewed and heaped with them。 But slaughter was
no new sight to me； and it was not that which held me spellbound。 It was
that up the long slope of the British position was moving a walking forest…
black； tossing； waving； unbroken。 Did I not know the bearskins of the
Guard？ And did I not also know； did not my soldier's instinct tell me；
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that it was the last reserve of France； that the Emperor； like a desperate
gamester； was staking all upon his last card？ Up they went and up
grand； solid； unbreakable； scourged with musketry； riddled with grape；
flowing onward in a black； heavy tide； which lapped over the British
batteries。 With my glass I could see the English gunners throw
themselves under their pieces or run to the rear。 On rolled the crest of the
bearskins； and then； with a crash which was swept across to my ears； they
met the British infantry。 A minute passed； and another； and another。
My heart was in my mouth。
They swayed back and forward； they no longer advanced； they were
held。 Great Heaven！ was it possible that they were breaking？ One
black dot ran down the hill； then two； then four； then ten； then a great；
scattered； struggling mass； halting； breaking； halting； and at last shredding
out and rushing madly downward。 〃The Guard is beaten！ The Guard is
beaten！〃 From all around me I heard the cry。 Along the whole line the
infantry turned their faces and the gunners flinched from their guns。
〃The Old Guard is beaten！ The Guard retreats！〃 An officer with a
livid face passed me yelling out these words of woe。
