the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第29部分
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moujiks and the cries of frightened women until we found ourselves in
front of the great town…hall。 My cavalry I drew up in the square； and I；
with my two sergeants； Oudin and Papilette； rushed into the building。
Heavens！ shall I ever forget the sight which greeted us？ Right in
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front of us was drawn up a triple line of Russian Grenadiers。 Their
muskets rose as we entered； and a crashing volley burst into our very faces。
Oudin and Papilette dropped upon the floor； riddled with bullets。
For myself； my busby was shot away and I had two holes through my
dolman。 The Grenadiers ran at me with their bayonets。 〃Treason！〃 I
cried。 〃We are betrayed！ Stand to your horses！〃 I rushed out of the hall；
but the whole square was swarming with troops。
From every side street Dragoons and Cossacks were riding down upon
us； and such a rolling fire had burst from the surrounding houses that half
my men and horses were on the ground。 〃Follow me！〃 I yelled； and
sprang upon Violette； but a giant of a Russian Dragoon officer threw his
arms round me and we rolled on the ground together。
He shortened his sword to kill me； but； changing his mind； he seized
me by the throat and banged my head against the stones until I was
unconscious。 So it was that I became the prisoner of the Russians。
When I came to myself my only regret was that my captor had not
beaten out my brains。 There in the grand square of Minsk lay half my
troopers dead or wounded； with exultant crowds of Russians gathered
round them。
The rest in a melancholy group were herded into the porch of the
town…hall； a sotnia of Cossacks keeping guard over them。 Alas！ what
could I say； what could I do？ It was evident that I had led my men into a
carefully… baited trap。 They had heard of our mission and they had
prepared for us。 And yet there was that despatch which had caused me to
neglect all precautions and to ride straight into the town。 How was I to
account for that？ The tears ran down my cheeks as I surveyed the ruin of
my squadron； and as I thought of the plight of my comrades of the Grand
Army who awaited the food which I was to have brought them。 Ney had
trusted me and I had failed him。 How often he would strain his eyes over
the snow…fields for that convoy of grain which should never gladden his
sight！ My own fate was hard enough。 An exile in Siberia was the best
which the future could bring me。 But you will believe me； my friends；
that it was not for his own sake； but for that of his starving comrades； that
Etienne Gerard's cheeks were lined by his tears； frozen even as they were
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shed。
〃What's this？〃 said a gruff voice at my elbow； and I turned to face the
huge； black…bearded Dragoon who had dragged me from my saddle。
〃Look at the Frenchman crying！ I thought that the Corsican was
followed by brave men and not by children。〃
〃If you and I were face to face and alone； I should let you see which is
the better man；〃 said I。
For answer the brute struck me across the face with his open hand。 I
seized him by the throat； but a dozen of his soldiers tore me away from
him； and he struck me again while they held my hands。
〃You base hound；〃 I cried； 〃is this the way to treat an officer and a
gentleman？〃
〃We never asked you to come to Russia；〃 said he。 〃If you do you
must take such treatment as you can get。 I would shoot you off…hand if I
had my way。〃
〃You will answer for this some day；〃 I cried； as I wiped the blood from
my moustache。
〃If the Hetman Platoff is of my way of thinking you will not be alive
this time to…morrow；〃 he answered； with a ferocious scowl。 He added
some words in Russian to his troops； and instantly they all sprang to their
saddles。
Poor Violette； looking as miserable as her master； was led round and I
was told to mount her。 My left arm was tied with a thong which was
fastened to the stirrup… iron of a sergeant of Dragoons。 So in most sorry
plight I and the remnant of my men set forth from Minsk。
Never have I met such a brute as this man Sergine； who commanded
the escort。 The Russian army contains the best and the worst in the
world； but a worse than Major Sergine of the Dragoons of Kieff I have
never seen in any force outside of the guerillas of the Peninsula。
He was a man of great stature； with a fierce； hard face and a bristling
black beard； which fell over his cuirass。
I have been told since that he was noted for his strength and his
bravery； and I could answer for it that he had the grip of a bear； for I had
felt it when he tore me from my saddle。 He was a wit； too； in his way；
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and made continual remarks in Russian at our expense which set all his
Dragoons and Cossacks laughing。 Twice he beat my comrades with his
riding…whip； and once he approached me with the lash swung over his
shoulder； but there was something in my eyes which prevented it from
falling。
So in misery and humiliation； cold and starving； we rode in a
disconsolate column across the vast snow…plain。 The sun had sunk； but
still in the long northern twilight we pursued our weary journey。
Numbed and frozen； with my head aching from the blows it had received；
I was borne onward by Violette； hardly conscious of where I was or
whither I was going。 The little mare walked with a sunken head； only
raising it to snort her contempt for the mangy Cossack ponies who were
round her。
But suddenly the escort stopped； and I found that we had halted in the
single street of a small Russian village。
There was a church on one side； and on the other was a large stone
house； the outline of which seemed to me to be familiar。 I looked around
me in the twilight； and then I saw that we had been led back to Dobrova；
and that this house at the door of which we were waiting was the same
house of the priest at which we had stopped in the morning。 Here it was
that my charming Sophie in her innocence had translated the unlucky
message which had in some strange way led us to our ruin。 To think that
only a few hours before we had left this very spot with such high hopes
and all fair prospects for our mission； and now the remnants of us waited
as beaten and humiliated men for whatever lot a brutal enemy might
ordain！ But such is the fate of the soldier； my friends kisses to…day；
blows to…morrow。 Tokay in a palace； ditch…water in a hovel； furs or rags；
a full purse or an empty pocket； ever swaying from the best to the worst；
with only his courage and his honour unchanging。
The Russian horsemen dismounted； and my poor fellows were ordered
to do the same。 It was already late； and it was clearly their intention to
spend the night in this village。 There were great cheering and joy
amongst the peasants when they understood that we had all been taken；
and they flocked out of their houses with flaming torches； the women
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carrying out tea and brandy for the Cossacks。 Amongst others the old
priest came forth the same whom we had seen in the morning。 He was
all smiles now； and he bore with him some hot punch on a salver； the reek
of which I can remember still。 Behind her father was Sophie。 With
horror I saw her clasp Major Sergine's hand as she congratulated him upon
the victory he had won and the prisoners he had made。 The old priest；
her father； looked at me with an insolent face and made insulting remarks
at my expense； pointing at me with his lean and grimy hand。 His fair
daughter Sophie looked at me also； but she said nothing； and I could read
her tender pity in her dark eyes。 At last she turned to Major Sergine and
said something to him in Russian； on which he frowned and shook his
head impatiently。
She appeared to plead with him； standing there in the flood of light
which shone from the open door of her father's house。 My eyes were
fixed upon the two faces； that of the beautiful girl and of the dark； fierce
man； for my instinct told me that it was my own fate which was under
debate。 For a long time the
