napoleon bonaparte, v3-第7章

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blown　up；　we　are　all　lost；〃　and　the　maledictions；　lamentations；
blasphemies；　were　sufficient　to　make　your　hair　stand　on　end。

The　aides…de…camp　of　his　Majesty　and　those　of　Marshal　Soult　galloped　in
every　direction；　forcing　their　way　through　the　crowds；　stopping　the
drummers；　and　asking　them；　〃Why　do　you　beat　the　alarm？　　Who　has　ordered
you　to　beat　the　alarm？〃〃We　don't　know；〃　they　replied；　and　the　drums
continued　to　beat；　while　the　tumult　kept　on　increasing；　and　the　crowd
rushed　to　the　gates；　struck　by　a　terror　which　a　moment's　reflection　would
have　dissipated。　　But；　unfortunately；　fear　gives　no　time　for　reflection。

It　is　true；　however；　that　a　considerable　number　of　inhabitants；　less
excitable　than　these　I　have　described；　remained　quietly　at　home；　well
knowing　that　if　the　fleet　had　really　been　on　fire；　there　would　have　been
no　time　to　give　an　alarm。　　These　persons　made　every　effort　to　quiet　the
excited　crowd。　　Madame　F；　the　very　pretty　and　very　amiable　wife　of　a
clockmaker；　was　in　her　kitchen　making　preparations　for　supper；　when　a
neighbor；　thoroughly　frightened；　entered；　and　said　to　her；　〃Save　yourself
Madame；　you　have　not　a　moment　to　lose！〃〃What　is　the　matter？〃〃The
fleet　is　on　fire！　　〃Ah…pshaw！〃〃Fly　then；　Madame；　fly！　　I　tell　you　the
fleet　is　on　fire。〃　　And　the　neighbor　took　Madame　F　by　the　arm；　and
endeavored　to　pull　her　along。　　Madame　F　held　at　the　moment　a　frying…
pan　in　which　she　was　cooking　some　fritters。　　〃Take　care；　you　will　make　me
burn　my　fritters；〃　said　she；　laughing。　　And　with　a　few　half　serious；　half
jesting　words　she　reassured　the　poor　fellow；　who　ended　by　laughing　at
himself。

At　last　the　tumult　was　appeased；　and　to　this　great　fright　a　profound　calm
succeeded。　　No　explosion　had　been　heard；　and　they　saw　that　it　must　have
been　a　false　alarm；　so　each　returned　home；　thinking　no　longer　of　the
fire；　but　agitated　by　another　fear。　　The　robbers　may　have　profited　by　the
absence　of　the　inhabitants　to　pillage　the　houses；　but　as　luck　would　have
it　no　mischance　of　this　kind　had　taken　place。

The　next　day　the　poor　commandant　who　had　so　inopportunely　taken　and　given
the　alarm　was　brought　before　the　council　of　war。　　He　was　guilty　of　no
intentional　wrong；　but　the　law　was　explicit；　and　he　was　condemned　to
death。　　His　judges；　however；　recommended　him　to　the　mercy　of　the　Emperor；
who　pardoned　him。




CHAPTER　XVII。

Many　of　the　brave　soldiers　who　composed　the　army　of　Boulogne　had　earned
the　cross　（of　the　Legion　of　Honor）　in　these　last　campaigns；　and　his
Majesty　desired　that　this　distribution　should　be　made　an　impressive
occasion；　which　should　long　be　remembered。　　He　chose　the　day　after　his
fete；　Aug。　16；　1804。　　Never　has　there　been　in　the　past；　nor　can　there　be
in　the　future；　a　more　imposing　spectacle。

At　six　o'clock　in　the　morning；　more　than　eighty　thousand　men　left　the
four　camps；at　their　head　drums　beating　and　bands　playing；and　advanced
by　divisions　towards　the　〃Hubertmill〃　field；　which　was　on　the　cliff
beyond　the　camp　of　the　right　wing。　　On　this　plain　an　immense　platform　had
been　erected；　about　fifteen　feet　above　the　ground；　and　with　its　back
toward　the　sea。　　It　was　reached　by　three　flights　of　richly　carpeted
steps；　situated　in　the　middle　and　on　each　side。　　From　the　stage　thus
formed；　about　forty　feet　square；　rose　three　other　platforms；　the　central
one　bearing　the　imperial　armchair；　decorated　with　trophies　and　banners；
while　that　on　the　left　held　seats　for　the　brothers　of　the　Emperor；　and
for　the　grand　dignitaries；　and　that　on　the　right　bore　a　tripod　of　antique
form；　surmounted　by　a　helmet　（the　helmet　of　Duguesclin；　I　think）；　covered
with　crosses　and　ribbons。　　By　the　side　of　the　tripod　had　been　placed　a
seat　for　the　arch…chancellor。

About　three　hundred　steps　from　the　throne；　the　land　rose　in　a　slight　and
almost　circular　ascent；　and　on　this　ascent　the　troops　were　arranged　as　in
an　amphitheater。　　To　the　right　of　the　throne；　on　an　eminence；　were　placed
sixty　or　eighty　tents　made　of　naval　flags；　these　tents　were　intended　for
the　ladies　of　the　city；　and　made　a　charming　picture；　but　they　were　so　far
from　the　throne　that　the　spectators　who　filled　them　were　obliged　to　use
glasses。　　Between　these　tents　and　the　throne　a　part　of　the　Imperial　Guard
was　ranged　in　line　of　battle。

The　weather　was　perfect；　there　was　not　a　cloud　in　the　sky；　the　English
cruisers　had　disappeared；　and　on　the　sea　could　be　seen　only　our　line　of
vessels　handsomely　decorated　with　flags。

At　ten　o'clock　in　the　morning；　a　discharge　of　artillery　announced　the
departure　of　the　Emperor；　and　his　Majesty　left　his　barrack；　surrounded　by
more　than　eighty　generals　and　two　hundred　aides…decamp；　all　his　household
following　him。　　The　Emperor　was　dressed　in　the　uniform　of　the　colonel…
general　of　the　infantry　of　the　guard。　　He　rode　at　a　gallop　to　the　foot　of
the　throne；　in　the　midst　of　universal　acclamations　and　the　most　deafening
uproar　made　by　drums；　trumpets；　and　cannon；　beating；　blowing；　and　roaring
all　together。

His　Majesty　mounted　the　throne；　followed　by　his　brothers　and　the　grand
dignitaries；　and　when　he　was　seated　each　one　took　his　designated　place；
and　the　distribution　of　the　crosses　began　in　the　following　manner：
An　aide…de…camp　of　the　Emperor　called　by　name　the　soldiers　to　be　honored；
who　one　by　one　stopped　at　the　foot　of　the　throne；　bowed；　and　mounted　the
steps　on　the　right。　　There　they　were　received　by　the　arch…chancellor；　who
delivered　to　them　their　commissions；　and　two　pages；　placed　between　the
Emperor　and　the　tripod；　took　the　decoration　from　the　helmet　of
Duguesclin；　and　handed　it　to　his　Majesty；　who　fastened　it　himself　on　the
breast　of　the　brave　fellow。　　Instantly　more　than　eight　hundred　drums　beat
a　tattoo；　and　when　the　soldier　thus　decorated　descended　from　the　throne
by　the　steps　on　the　left；　as　he　passed　before　the　brilliant　staff　of　the
Emperor　a　burst　of　music　from　more　than　twelve　hundred　musicians　signaled
the　return　to　his　company　of　the　Knight　of　the　Legion　of　Honor。　　It　is
needless　to　say　that　the　cry　of　'Vive　l'Empereur'　was　repeated　twice　at
each　decoration。

The　distribution　began　at　ten　o'clock；　and　ended　about　three。　　Then；
according　to　orders　borne　by　the　aides…decamp　to　the　divisions；　a　volley
of　artillery　was　heard；　and　eighty　thousand　men　advanced　in　close　columns
to　within　twenty　or　thirty　steps　of　the　throne。　　The　most　profound
silence　succeeded　the　noise　of　drums；　and；　the　Emperor　having　given　his
orders；　the　troops　executed　maneuvers　for　about　an　hour；　at　the　end　of
which　each　division　defiled　before　the　throne　as　they　returned　to　the
camp。　　Each　chief；　on　passing；　saluted　by　lowering　the　point　of　his
sword。　　Specially　noticeable　among　them　was　Prince　Joseph；　newly
appointed　colonel　of　the　Fourth　Regiment　of　the　line；　who　made　his
brother　a　salute　more　graceful　than　military。　　The　Emperor　frowned
slightly　at　the　somewhat　critical　remarks　which　his　old　companions　in
arms　seemed　inclined　to　make　on　this　subject；　but　except　for　this　slight
cloud；　the　countenance　of　his　Majesty　was　never　more　radiant。

Just　as　the　troops　were　filing　off；　the　wind；　which　for　two　or　three
hours　had　been　blowing　violently；　became　a　perfect　gale；　and　an　orderly
officer　came　in　haste　to　inform　his　Majesty　that　four　or　five　gunboats
had　just　been　driven　ashore。　　The　Emperor　at　once　left　the　plain　at　a
gallop；　followed　by　some　of　the　marshals；　and　took　his　position　on　the
shore　until　the　crews　of　the　gunboats　were　saved；　and　the　Emperor　then
returned　to　the　Pont　des　Briques。

This　immense　army　could　not　regain　its　quarters　before　eight　o'clock　in
the　evening。　　The　next　day　the　camp　of　the　left　wing　gave　a　military
fete；　at　which　the　Emperor　was　present。

From　early　in　the　morning；　launches　mounted　on　wheels　ran　at　full　speed
through　the　streets　of　the　camp；　driven　by　a　favorable　wind。　　Officers
amused　themselves　riding　after　them　at　a　gallop；　and　rarely　overtaking
them。　　This　exercise　lasted　an　hour　or　two；　but；　the　wind　having　changed；
the　launches　upset；　amid　shouts　of　laughter。

This　was　followed　by　a　horseback　race；　the　prize　being　twelve　hundred
francs。　　A　lieutenant　of　dragoons；　very　popular　in　his　company；　asked　as
a　favor　to　be　allowed　to　compete；　but　the　haughty　council　of　superior
officers　refused　to　admit　him；　under　the　pretext　that　his　rank　was　not
sufficiently　high；　but；　in　reality；　because　he　had　the　reputation　of
being　a　splendid　horseman。　　Stung　to　the　quick　by　this　unjust　refusal；
the　lieutenant　of　dragoons　applied　to　the　Emperor；　who　gave　him
permission　to　race　with　the　others；　after　having　learned　that　this　brave
officer　supported　by　his　own　exertions　a　numerous　family；　and　that　his
conduct　was　irreproachable。

At　a　given　signal　the　races　began。　　The　lieutenant　of　dragoons　soon
passed　his　antagonists；　and　had　almost　reached　the　goal；　when；　by　an
unfortunate　mischance；　a　little　poodle　ran　between　the　legs　of　his　horse；
and　threw　him　down。　　An　aide…de…camp　who　came　immediately　after　was
proclaimed　victor。　　The　lieutenant　picked　himself　up　as　well　as　he　could；
and　was　preparing；　very　sadly；　to　retire；　somewhat　consoled　by　the　signs
of　interest　which　the　spectators　manifested；　when　the　Emperor　summoned
him；　and　said；　〃You　deserve　the　prize；　and　you　shall　have　it；　I　make　you
captain。〃　　And　addressing　himself　to　the　grand　marshal　of　the　palace；
〃You　will　pay　twelve　hundred　francs　to　the　Captain　〃　（the　name　does　not
occur　to　me）；　while　all　cried；　〃Vive　l'Empereur；〃　and　congratulated　the
new　captain　on　his　lucky　fall。

In　the　evening　there　were　fireworks；　which　could　be　seen　from　the　coast
of　England。　　Thirty　thousand　soldiers　executed　all　sorts　of　maneuvers；
firing　sky…rockets　from　their　guns。　　The　crowning　piece；　which
represented　the　arms　of　the　Empire；　was　so　fine　that　for　five　minutes
Boulogne；　the　country；　and　all　the　coast；　were　lighted　up　as　if　it　were
broad　daylight。

A　few　days　after　these　fetes；　as　the　Emperor　was　passing　from　one　camp　to
the　other；　a　sailor　who　was　watching　for　him　in　order　to　hand　him　a
petition　was　obliged；　as　the　rain　was　falling　in　torrents；　and　he　was
afraid　of　spoiling　the　sheet　of　paper；　to　place　himself　under　shelter　in
an　isolated　barrack　on　the　shore；　used　to　store　rigging。　　He　had　been
waiting　a　long　time；　and　was　wet　to　the　skin；　when　he　saw　the　Emperor
coming　from　the　camp　of　the　left　wing　at　a　gallop。　　Just　as　his　Majesty；
still　galloping；　was　about　to　pass　before　the　barrack；　the　brave　sailor；
who　was　on　the　lookout；　sprang　suddenly　from　his　hiding　place；　and　threw
himself　before　the　Emperor；　holding　out　his　petition　in　the　attitude　of　a
fencing…master　defending　himself。　　The　Emperor's　horse；　startled　by　this
sudden　apparition；　stopped　short；　and　his　Majesty；　taken　by　surprise；
gave　the　sailor　a　disapproving　glance；　and　passed　on　without　taking　the
petition　which　was　offered　him　in　so　unusual　a　manner。

It　was　on　this　day；　I　think；　that　Monsieur　Decres；　minister　of　the　navy；
had　the　misfortune　to　fall　into　the　water；　to　the　very　great　amusement　of
his　Majesty。　　To　enable　the　Emperor　to　pass　from　the　quay　to　a　gunboat；
there　had　been　a　single　plank　thrown　from　the　boat　to　the　quay。　　Napoleon
passed；　or　rather　leaped；　over　this　light　bridge；　and　was