the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第18部分
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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
situated。 I had been betrayed by these peasants into the hands of an
outpost of guerillas。 There were eight of them； savage…looking； hairy
creatures； with cotton handkerchiefs under their sombreros； and many…
buttoned jackets with coloured sashes round the waist。
Each had a gun and one or two pistols stuck in his girdle。
The leader； a great； bearded ruffian； held his gun against my ear while
the others searched my pockets； taking from me my overcoat； my pistol；
my glass； my sword； and； worst of all； my flint and steel and tinder。
Come what might； I was ruined； for I had no longer the means of lighting
the beacon even if I should reach it。
Eight of them； my friends； with three peasants； and I unarmed！ Was
Etienne Gerard in despair？ Did he lose his wits？ Ah； you know me too
well； but they did not know me yet； these dogs of brigands。 Never have I
made so supreme and astounding an effort as at this very instant when all
seemed lost。 Yet you might guess many times before you would hit upon
the device by which I escaped them。 Listen and I will tell you。
They had dragged me from the waggon when they searched me； and I
stood； still twisted and warped； in the midst of them。 But the stiffness
was wearing off； and already my mind was very actively looking out for
some method of breaking away。 It was a narrow pass in which the
brigands had their outpost。 It was bounded on the one hand by a steep
mountain side。 On the other the ground fell away in a very long slope；
which ended in a bushy valley many hundreds of feet below。 These
fellows； you understand； were hardy mountaineers； who could travel either
up hill or down very much quicker than I。 They wore abarcas； or shoes
of skin； tied on like sandals； which gave them a foothold everywhere。 A
less resolute man would have despaired。 But in an instant I saw and used
the strange chance which Fortune had placed in my way。 On the very
edge of the slope was one of the wine…barrels。 I moved slowly toward it；
and then with a tiger spring I dived into it feet foremost； and with a roll of
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my body I tipped it over the side of the hill。
Shall I ever forget that dreadful journeyhow I bounded and crashed
and whizzed down that terrible slope？ I had dug in my knees and elbows；
bunching my body into a compact bundle so as to steady it； but my head
projected from the end； and it was a marvel that I did not dash out my
brains。 There were long； smooth slopes； and then came steeper scarps
where the barrel ceased to roll； and sprang into the air like a goat； coming
down with a rattle and crash which jarred every bone in my body。 How
the wind whistled in my ears； and my head turned and turned until I was
sick and giddy and nearly senseless！ Then； with a swish and a great
rasping and crackling of branches； I reached the bushes which I had seen
so far below me。 Through them I broke my way； down a slope beyond；
and deep into another patch of underwood； where； striking a sapling； my
barrel flew to pieces。 From amid a heap of staves and hoops I crawled
out； my body aching in every inch of it； but my heart singing loudly with
joy and my spirit high within me； for I knew how great was the feat which
I had accomplished； and I already seemed to see the beacon blazing on the
hill。
A horrible nausea had seized
