the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第21部分
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see。 Put me on yonder pile of fagots and burn me alive； as saints and
martyrs have been burned before me。 That is no common end； but one
which an Emperor might envy。〃
The idea seemed to amuse him very much。 〃Why not？〃 said he。 〃If
Massena has sent you to spy upon us； he may guess what the fire upon the
mountain means。〃
〃Exactly；〃 said I。 〃You have hit upon my very reason。 He will
guess； and all will know； that I have died a soldier's death。〃
〃I see no objection whatever；〃 said the brigand； with his abominable
smile。 〃I will send some goat's flesh and wine into your hut。 The sun is
sinking and it is nearly eight o'clock。 In four hours be ready for your
end。〃
It was a beautiful world to be leaving。 I looked at the golden haze
below； where the last rays of the sinking sun shone upon the blue waters of
the winding Tagus and gleamed upon the white sails of the English
transports。
Very beautiful it was； and very sad to leave； but there are things more
beautiful than that。 The death that is died for the sake of others； honour；
and duty； and loyalty； and lovethese are the beauties far brighter than any
which the eye can see。 My breast was filled with admiration for my own
most noble conduct； and with wonder whether any soul would ever come
to know how I had placed myself in the heart of the beacon which saved
the army of Clausel。 I hoped so and I prayed so； for what a consolation it
would be to my mother； what an example to the army； what a pride to my
Hussars！ When de Pombal came at last into my hut with the food and the
wine； the first request I made him was that he would write an account of
my death and send it to the French camp。
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He answered not a word； but I ate my supper with a better appetite
from the thought that my glorious fate would not be altogether unknown。
I had been there about two hours when the door opened again； and the
chief stood looking in。 I was in darkness； but a brigand with a torch
stood beside him； and I saw his eyes and his teeth gleaming as he peered at
me。
〃Ready？〃 he asked。
〃It is not yet time。〃
〃You stand out for the last minute？〃
〃A promise is a promise。〃
〃Very good。 Be it so。 We have a little justice to do among ourselves；
for one of my fellows has been misbehaving。
We have a strict rule of our own which is no respecter of persons； as de
Pombal here could tell you。
Do you truss him and lay him on the faggots； de Pombal； and I will
return to see him die。〃
De Pombal and the man with the torch entered； while I heard the steps
of the chief passing away。 De Pombal closed the door。
〃Colonel Gerard；〃 said he； 〃you must trust this man； for he is one of
my party。 It is neck or nothing。 We may save you yet。 But I take a
great risk； and I want a definite promise。 If we save you； will you
guarantee that we have a friendly reception in the French camp and that all
the past will be forgotten？〃
〃I do guarantee it。〃
〃And I trust your honour。 Now； quick； quick； there is not an instant
to lose！ If this monster returns we shall die horribly； all three。〃
I stared in amazement at what he did。 Catching up a long rope he
wound it round the body of my dead comrade； and he tied a cloth round
his mouth so as to almost cover his face。
〃Do you lie there！〃 he cried； and he laid me in the place of the dead
body。 〃I have four of my men waiting； and they will place this upon the
beacon。〃 He opened the door and gave an order。 Several of the
brigands entered and bore out Duplessis。 For myself I remained upon the
floor； with my mind in a turmoil of hope and wonder。
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Five minutes later de Pombal and his men were back。
〃You are laid upon the beacon；〃 said he； 〃I defy anyone in the world to
say it is not you； and you are so gagged and bound that no one can expect
you to speak or move。 Now； it only remains to carry forth the body of
Duplessis and to toss it over the Merodal precipice。〃
Two of them seized me by the head and two by the heels； and carried
me； stiff and inert； from the hut。 As I came into the open air I could have
cried out in my amazement。 The moon had risen above the beacon； and
there； clear outlined against its silver light； was the figure of the man
stretched upon the top。 The brigands were either in their camp or
standing round the beacon； for none of them stopped or questioned our
little party。 De Pombal led them in the direction of the precipice。 At the
brow we were out of sight； and there I was allowed to use my feet once
more。 De Pombal pointed to a narrow； winding track。
〃This is the way down；〃 said he； and then； suddenly；
〃Dios mio； what is that？〃
A terrible cry had risen out of the woods beneath us。
I saw that de Pombal was shivering like a frightened horse。
〃It is that devil；〃 he whispered。 〃He is treating another as he treated
me。 But on； on； for Heaven help us if he lays his hands upon us。〃
One by one we crawled down the narrow goat track。
At the bottom of the cliff we were back in the woods once more。
Suddenly a yellow glare shone above us； and the black shadows of the
tree…trunks started out in front。
They had fired the beacon behind us。 Even from where we stood we
could see that impassive body amid the flames； and the black figures of
the guerillas as they danced； howling like cannibals； round the pile。 Ha！
how I shook my fist at them； the dogs； and how I vowed that one day my
Hussars and I would make the reckoning level！
De Pombal knew how the outposts were placed and all the paths which
led through the forest。 But to avoid these villains we had to plunge
among the hills and walk for many a weary mile。 And yet how gladly
would I have walked those extra leagues if only for one sight which they
brought to my eyes！ It may have been two o'clock in the morning when
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we halted upon the bare shoulder of a hill over which our path curled。
Looking back we saw the red glow of the embers of the beacon as if
volcanic fires were bursting from the tall peak of Merodal。 And then； as I
gazed； I saw something else something which caused me to shriek with
joy and to fall upon the ground； rolling in my delight。 For； far away upon
the southern horizon； there winked and twinkled one great yellow light；
throbbing and flaming； the light of no house； the light of no star； but the
answering beacon of Mount d'Ossa； which told that the army of Clausel
knew what Etienne Gerard had been sent to tell them。
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V。 How the Brigadier Triumphed in
England
I have told you； my friends； how I triumphed over the English at the
fox…hunt when I pursued the animal so fiercely that even the herd of
trained dogs was unable to keep up； and alone with my own hand I put
him to the sword。 Perhaps I have said too much of the matter； but there
is a thrill in the triumphs of sport which even warfare cannot give； for in
warfare you share your successes with your regiment and your army； but
in sport it is you yourself unaided who have won the laurels。 It is an
advantage which the English have over us that in all classes they take
great interest in every form of sport。 It may be that they are richer than
we； or it may be that they are more idle： but I was surprised when I was a
prisoner in that country to observe how widespread was this feeling； and
how much it filled the minds and the lives of the people。 A horse that
will run； a cock that will fight； a dog that will kill rats； a man that will box…
…they would turn away from the Emperor in all his glory in order to look
upon any of these。
I could tell you many stories of English sport； for I saw much of it
during the time that I was the guest of Lord Rufton； after the order for my
exchange had come to England。 There were months before I could be
sent back to France； and during this time I stayed with this good Lord
Rufton at his beautiful house of High Combe； which is at the northern end
of Dartmoor。 He had ridden with the police when they had pursued me
from Princetown； and he had felt toward me when I was overtaken as I
would myself have felt had I； in my own country； seen a brave and
debonair soldier without a friend to help him。 In a word； he took me to
his house； clad me； fed me； and treated
