the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第19部分
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I had accomplished； and I already seemed to see the beacon blazing on the
hill。
A horrible nausea had seized me from the tossing which I had
undergone； and I felt as I did upon the ocean when first I experienced
those movements of which the English have taken so perfidious an
advantage。 I had to sit for a few moments with my head upon my hands
beside the ruins of my barrel。 But there was no time for rest。
Already I heard shouts above me which told that my pursuers were
descending the hill。 I dashed into the thickest part of the underwood； and
I ran and ran until I was utterly exhausted。 Then I lay panting and
listened with all my ears； but no sound came to them。 I had shaken off
my enemies。
When I had recovered my breath I travelled swiftly on； and waded
knee…deep through several brooks； for it came into my head that they
might follow me with dogs。
On gaining a clear place and looking round me； I found to my delight
that in spite of my adventures I had not been much out of my way。
Above me towered the peak of Merodal； with its bare and bold summit
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shooting out of the groves of dwarf oaks which shrouded its flanks。
These groves were the continuation of the cover under which I found
myself； and it seemed to me that I had nothing to fear now until I reached
the other side of the forest。 At the same time I knew that every man's
hand was against me； that I was unarmed； and that there were many people
about me。 I saw no one； but several times I heard shrill whistles； and
once the sound of a gun in the distance。
It was hard work pushing one's way through the bushes； and so I was
glad when I came to the larger trees and found a path which led between
them。 Of course； I was too wise to walk upon it； but I kept near it and
followed its course。 I had gone some distance； and had； as I imagined；
nearly reached the limit of the wood； when a strange； moaning sound fell
upon my ears。 At first I thought it was the cry of some animal； but then
there came words； of which I only caught the French exclamation； 〃Mon
Dieu！〃 With great caution I advanced in the direction from which the
sound proceeded； and this is what I saw。
On a couch of dried leaves there was stretched a man dressed in the
same grey uniform which I wore myself。
He was evidently horribly wounded； for he held a cloth to his breast
which was crimson with his blood。 A pool had formed all round his
couch； and he lay in a haze of flies； whose buzzing and droning would
certainly have called my attention if his groans had not come to my ear。
I lay for a moment； fearing some trap； and then； my pity and loyalty
rising above all other feelings； I ran forward and knelt by his side。 He
turned a haggard face upon me； and it was Duplessis； the man who had
gone before me。 It needed but one glance at his sunken cheeks and
glazing eyes to tell me that he was dying。
〃Gerard！〃 said he； 〃Gerard！〃
I could but look my sympathy； but he； though the life was ebbing
swiftly out of him； still kept his duty before him； like the gallant
gentleman he was。
〃The beacon； Gerard！ You will light it？〃
〃Have you flint and steel？〃
〃It is here！〃
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〃Then I will light it to…night。〃
〃I die happy to hear you say so。 They shot me； Gerard。
But you will tell the Marshal that I did my best。〃
〃And Cortex？〃
〃He was less fortunate。 He fell into their hands and died horribly。 If
you see that you cannot get away； Gerard； put a bullet into your own heart。
Don't die as Cortex did。〃
I could see that his breath was failing； and I bent low to catch his
words。
〃Can you tell me anything which can help me in my task？〃 I asked。
〃Yes； yes； de Pombal。 He will help you。 Trust de Pombal。〃 With
the words his head fell back and he was dead。
〃Trust de Pombal。 It is good advice。〃 To my amazement a man was
standing at the very side of me。
So absorbed had I been in my comrade's words and intent on his
advice that he had crept up without my observing him。 Now I sprang to
my feet and faced him。 He was a tall； dark fellow； black…haired； black…
eyed； black…bearded； with a long； sad face。 In his hand he had a wine…
bottle and over his shoulder was slung one of the trabucos or
blunderbusses which these fellows bear。 He made no effort to unsling it；
and I understood that this was the man to whom my dead friend had
commended me。
〃Alas； he is gone！〃 said he； bending over Duplessis。
〃He fled into the wood after he was shot； but I was fortunate enough to
find where he had fallen and to make his last hours more easy。 This
couch was my making； and I had brought this wine to slake his thirst。〃
〃Sir；〃 said I； 〃in the name of France I thank you。 I am but a colonel
of light cavalry； but I am Etienne Gerard； and the name stands for
something in the French army。 May I ask〃
〃Yes； sir； I am Aloysius de Pombal； younger brother of the famous
nobleman of that name。 At present I am the first lieutenant in the band of
the guerilla chief who is usually known as Manuelo； 'The Smiler。' 〃
My word； I clapped my hand to the place where my pistol should have
been； but the man only smiled at the gesture。
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〃I am his first lieutenant； but I am also his deadly enemy；〃 said he。
He slipped off his jacket and pulled up his shirt as he spoke。 〃Look at
this！〃 he cried； and he turned upon me a back which was all scored and
lacerated with red and purple weals。 〃This is what 'The Smiler' has done
to me； a man with the noblest blood of Portugal in my veins。 What I will
do to 'The Smiler' you have still to see。〃
There was such fury in his eyes and in the grin of his white teeth that I
could no longer doubt his truth； with that clotted and oozing back to
corroborate his words。
〃I have ten men sworn to stand by me；〃 said he。 〃In a few days I
hope to join your army； when I have done my work here。 In the
meanwhile〃 A strange change came over his face； and he suddenly
slung his musket to the front： 〃Hold up your hands； you French hound！〃
he yelled。 〃Up with them； or I blow your head of！〃
You start； my friends！ You stare！ Think； then； how I stared and
started at this sudden ending of our talk。
There was the black muzzle and there the dark； angry eyes behind it。
What could I do？ I was helpless。 I raised my hands in the air。 At the
same moment voices sounded from all parts of the wood； there were
crying and calling and rushing of many feet。 A swarm of dreadful figures
broke through the green bushes； a dozen hands seized me； and I； poor；
luckless； frenzied I； was a prisoner once more。 Thank God； there was no
pistol which I could have plucked from my belt and snapped at my own
head。 Had I been armed at that moment I should not be sitting here in
this cafe and telling you these old…world tales。
With grimy； hairy hands clutching me on every side I was led along
the pathway through the wood； the villain de Pombal giving directions to
my Captors。 Four of the brigands carried up the dead body of Duplessis。
The shadows of evening were already falling when we cleared the
forest and came out upon the mountain…side。
Up this I was driven until we reached the headquarters of the guerillas；
which lay in a cleft close to the summit of the mountain。 There was the
beacon which had cost me so much； a square stack of wood； immediately
above our heads。 Below were two or three huts which had belonged； no
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doubt； to goatherds； and which were now used to shelter these rascals。
Into one of these I was cast； bound and helpless； and the dead body of my
poor comrade was laid beside me。
I was lying there with the one thought still consuming me； how to wait
a few hours and to get at that pile of fagots above my head； when the door
of my prison opened and a man entered。 Had my hands been free I
should have flown at his throat； for it was none other than de Pombal。 A
couple of brigands were at his heels； but he ordered them back and closed
the door behind him。
〃You villain！〃 said I。
