the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第39部分
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Emperor's own famous white charger。 It was complete。
Already as I rode clear the Prussians were within two hundred yards of
us。 I made a gesture of terror and despair with my hands； and I sprang
my horse over the bank which lined the road。 It was enough。 A yell of
exultation and of furious hatred broke from the Prussians。
It was the howl of starving wolves who scent their prey。 I spurred my
horse over the meadow…land and looked back under my arm as I rode。
Oh； the glorious moment when one after the other I saw eight horsemen
come over the bank at my heels！ Only one had stayed behind； and I
heard shouting and the sounds of a struggle。 I remembered my old
sergeant of Chasseurs； and I was sure that number nine would trouble us
no more。 The road was clear and the Emperor free to continue his
journey。
But now I had to think of myself。 If I were overtaken the Prussians
would certainly make short work of me in their disappointment。 If it
were soif I lost my lifeI should still have sold it at a glorious price。
But I had hopes that I might shake them off。 With ordinary horsemen
upon ordinary horses I should have had no difficulty in doing so； but here
both steeds and riders were of the best。 It was a grand creature that I
rode； but it was weary with its long night's work； and the Emperor was one
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of those riders who do not know how to manage a horse。 He had little
thought far them and a heavy hand upon their mouths。 On the other hand；
Stein and his men had come both far and fast。 The race was a fair one。
So quick had been my impulse； and so rapidly had I acted upon it； that
I had not thought enough of my own safety。 Had I done so in the first
instance I should； of course； have ridden straight back the way we had
come； for so I should have met our own people。 But I was off the road
and had galloped a mile over the plain before this occurred to me。 Then
when I looked back I saw that the Prussians had spread out into a long line；
so as to head me off from the Charleroi road。 I could not turn back； but
at least I could edge toward the north。 I knew that the whole face of the
country was covered with our flying troops； and that sooner or later I must
come upon some of them。
But one thing I had forgottenthe Sambre。 In my excitement I never
gave it a thought until I saw it； deep and broad； gleaming in the morning
sunlight。 It barred my path； and the Prussians howled behind me。 I
galloped to the brink； but the horse refused the plunge。 I spurred him；
but the bank was high and the stream deep。
He shrank back trembling and snorting。 The yells of triumph were
louder every instant。 I turned and rode for my life down the river bank。
It formed a loop at this part； and I must get across somehow； for my retreat
was blocked。 Suddenly a thrill of hope ran through me； for I saw a house
on my side of the stream and another on the farther bank。 Where there
are two such houses it usually means that there is a ford between them。
A sloping path led to the brink and I urged my horse down it。 On he
went； the water up to the saddle； the foam flying right and left。 He
blundered once and I thought we were lost； but he recovered and an instant
later was clattering up the farther slope。 As we came out I heard the
splash behind me as the first Prussian took the water。 There was just the
breadth of the Sambre between us。
I rode with my head sunk between my shoulders in Napoleon's fashion；
and I did not dare to look back for fear they should see my moustache。 I
had turned up the collar of the grey coat so as partly to hide it。 Even now
if they found out their mistake they might turn and overtake the carriage。
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But when once we were on the road I could tell by the drumming of their
hoofs how far distant they were； and it seemed to me that the sound grew
perceptibly louder； as if they were slowly gaining upon me。 We were
riding now up the stony and rutted lane which led from the ford。 I
peeped back very cautiously from under my arm and I perceived that my
danger came from a single rider； who was far ahead of his comrades。
He was a Hussar； a very tiny fellow； upon a big black horse； and it was
his light weight which had brought him into the foremost place。 It is a
place of honour； but it is also a place of danger； as he was soon to learn。
I felt the holsters； but； to my horror； there were no pistols。 There was a
field…glass in one and the other was stuffed with papers。 My sword had
been left behind with Violette。
Had I only my own weapons and my own little mare I could have
played with these rascals。 But I was not entirely unarmed。 The
Emperor's own sword hung to the saddle。 It was curved and short； the
hilt all crusted with golda thing more fitted to glitter at a review than to
serve a soldier in his deadly need。 I drew it； such as it was； and I waited
my chance。 Every instant the clink and clatter of the hoofs grew nearer。
I heard the panting of the horse； and the fellow shouted some threat at me。
There was a turn in the lane； and as I rounded it I drew up my white Arab
on his haunches。 As we spun round I met the Prussian Hussar face to
face。 He was going too fast to stop； and his only chance was to ride me
down。 Had he done so he might have met his own death； but he would
have injured me or my horse past all hope of escape。 But the fool
flinched as he saw me waiting and flew past me on my right。 I lunged
over my Arab's neck and buried my toy sword in his side。 It must have
been the finest steel and as sharp as a razor； for I hardly felt it enter； and
yet his blood was within three inches of the hilt。 His horse galloped on
and he kept his saddle for a hundred yards before he sank down with his
face on the mane and then dived over the side of the neck on to the road。
For my own part I was already at his horse's heels。 A few seconds had
sufficed for all that I have told。
I heard the cry of rage and vengeance which rose from the Prussians as
they passed their dead comrade； and I could not but smile as I wondered
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what they could think of the Emperor as a horseman and a swordsman。 I
glanced back cautiously as before； and I saw that none of the seven men
stopped。 The fate of their comrade was nothing compared to the carrying
out of their mission。
They were as untiring and as remorseless as bloodhounds。
But I had a good lead and the brave Arab was still going well。 I
thought that I was safe。 And yet it was at that very instant that the most
terrible danger befell me。 The lane divided； and I took the smaller of the
two divisions because it was the more grassy and the easier for the horse's
hoofs。 Imagine my horror when； riding through a gate； I found myself in
a square of stables and farm…buildings； with no way out save that by which
I had come！ Ah； my friends； if my hair is snowy white； have I not had
enough to make it so？
To retreat was impossible。 I could hear the thunder of the Prussians'
hoofs in the lane。 I looked round me； and Nature has blessed me with
that quick eye which is the first of gifts to any soldier； but most of all to a
leader of cavalry。 Between a long； low line of stables and the farm…house
there was a pig…sty。 Its front was made of bars of wood four feet high；
the back was of stone； higher than the front。 What was beyond I could
not tell。 The space between the front and the back was not more than a
few yards。 It was a desperate venture； and yet I must take it。 Every
instant the beating of those hurrying hoofs was louder and louder。 I put
my Arab at the pig…sty。 She cleared the front beautifully and came down
with her forefeet upon the sleeping pig within； slipping forward upon her
knees。 I was thrown over the wall beyond； and fell upon my hands and
face in a soft flower…bed。 My horse was upon one side of the wall； I
upon the other； and the Prussians were pouring into the yard。 But I was
up in an instant and had seized the bridle of the plunging horse over the
top of the wall。 It was built of loose stones； and I dragged down a few of
them to make a gap。 As I tugged at the bridle and shouted the gallant
creature rose to the leap； and an instant afterward she was by my side and I
with my foot on the stirrup。
An heroi
