the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第40部分
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creature rose to the leap； and an instant afterward she was by my side and I
with my foot on the stirrup。
An heroic idea had entered my mind as I mounted into the saddle。
These Prussians； if they came over the pig… sty； could only come one at
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once； and their attack would not be formidable when they had not had time
to recover from such a leap。 Why should I not wait and kill them one by
one as they came over？ It was a glorious thought。 They would learn
that Etienne Gerard was not a safe man to hunt。 My hand felt for my
sword； but you can imagine my feelings； my friends； when I came upon an
empty scabbard。 It had been shaken out when the horse had tripped over
that infernal pig。 On what absurd trifles do our destinies hanga pig on
one side； Etienne Gerard on the other！ Could I spring over the wall and
get the sword？ Impossible！ The Prussians were already in the yard。 I
turned my Arab and resumed my flight。
But for a moment it seemed to me that I was in a far worse trap than
before。 I found myself in the garden of the farm…house； an orchard in the
centre and flower… beds all round。 A high wall surrounded the whole
place。 I reflected； however； that there must be some point of entrance；
since every visitor could not be expected to spring over the pig…sty。 I
rode round the wall。 As I expected； I came upon a door with a key upon
the inner side。 I dismounted； unlocked it； opened it； and there was a
Prussian Lancer sitting his horse within six feet of me。
For a moment we each stared at the other。 Then I shut the door and
locked it again。 A crash and a cry came from the other end of the garden。
I understood that one of my enemies had come to grief in trying to get
over the pig…sty。 How could I ever get out of this cul…de…sac？ It was
evident that some of the party had galloped round； while some had
followed straight upon my tracks。 Had I my sword I might have beaten
off the Lancer at the door； but to come out now was to be butchered。 And
yet if I waited some of them would certainly follow me on foot over the
pig…sty； and what could I do then？ I must act at once or I was lost。 But
it is at such moments that my wits are most active and my actions most
prompt。 Still leading my horse； I ran for a hundred yards by the side of
the wall away from the spot where the Lancer was watching。 There I
stopped； and with an effort I tumbled down several of the loose stones
from the top of the wall。 The instant I had done so I hurried back to the
door。 As I had expected； he thought I was making a gap for my escape at
that point； and I heard the thud of his horse's hoofs as he galloped to cut
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me off。 As I reached the gate I looked back； and I saw a green…coated
horseman； whom I knew to be Count Stein； clear the pig…sty and gallop
furiously with a shout of triumph across the garden。
〃Surrender； your Majesty； surrender！〃 he yelled； 〃we will give you
quarter！〃 I slipped through the gate； but had no time to lock it on the
other side。 Stein was at my very heels； and the Lancer had already turned
his horse。 Springing upon my Arab's back； I was off once more with a
clear stretch of grass land before me。 Stein had to dismount to open the
gate； to lead his horse through； and to mount again before he could follow。
It was he that I feared rather than the Lancer； whose horse was coarse…
bred and weary。 I galloped hard for a mile before I ventured to look back；
and then Stein was a musket…shot from me； and the Lancer as much again；
while only three of the others were in sight。 My nine Prussians were
coming down to more manageable numbers； and yet one was too much for
an unarmed man。
It had surprised me that during this long chase I had seen no fugitives
from the army； but I reflected that I was considerably to the west of their
line of flight； and that I must edge more toward the east if I wished to join
them。 Unless I did so it was probable that my pursuers； even if they
could not overtake me themselves； would keep me in view until I was
headed off by some of their comrades coming from the north。 As I
looked to the eastward I saw afar off a line of dust which stretched for
miles across the country。 This was certainly the main road along which
our unhappy army was flying。 But I soon had proof that some of our
stragglers had wandered into these side tracks； for I came suddenly upon a
horse grazing at the corner of a field； and beside him； with his back against
the bank； his master； a French Cuirassier； terribly wounded and evidently
on the point of death。 I sprang down； seized his long； heavy sword； and
rode on with it。 Never shall I forget the poor man's face as he looked at
me with his failing sight。 He was an old； grey…moustached soldier； one
of the real fanatics； and to him this last vision of his Emperor was like a
revelation from on high。
Astonishment； love； prideall shone in his pallid face。 He said
somethingI fear they were his last words but I had no time to listen；
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and I galloped on my way。
All this time I had been on the meadow…land； which was intersected in
this part by broad ditches。 Some of them could not have been less than
from fourteen to fifteen feet； and my heart was in my mouth as I went at
each of them； for a slip would have been my ruin。
But whoever selected the Emperor's horses had done his work well。
The creature； save when it balked on the bank of the Sambre； never failed
me for an instant。
We cleared everything in one stride。 And yet we could not shake off！
those infernal Prussians。 As I left each water…course behind me I looked
back with renewed hope； but it was only to see Stein on his white…legged
chestnut flying over it as lightly as I had done myself。 He was my enemy；
but I honoured him for the way in which he carried himself that day。
Again and again I measured the distance which separated him from the
next horseman。 I had the idea that I might turn and cut him down； as I
had the Hussar； before his comrade could come to his help。 But the
others had closed up and ere not far behind。 I reflected that this Stein
was probably as fine a swordsman as he was a rider； and that it might take
me some little time to get the better of him。 In that case the others would
come to his aid an I should be lost。 On the whole； it was wiser to
continue my flight。
A road with poplars on either side ran across the plain from east to
west。 It would lead me toward that long line of dust which marked the
French retreat。 I wheeled my horse； therefore； and galloped down it。
As I rode I saw a single house in front of me upon the right； with a great
bush hung over the door to mark it as an inn。 Outside there were several
peasants； but for them I cared nothing。 What frightened me was to see
the gleam of a red coat； which showed that there were British in the place。
However； I could not turn and I could not stop； so there was nothing for it
but to gallop on and to take my chance。 There were no troops in sight； so
these men must be stragglers or marauders； from whom I had little to fear。
As I approached I saw that there were two of them sitting drinking on a
bench outside the inn door。 I saw them stagger to their feet； and it was
evident that they were both very drunk。 One stood swaying in the middle
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of the road。
〃It's Boney！ So help me； it's Boney！〃 he yelled。 He ran with his
hands out to catch me； but luckily for himself his drunken feet stumbled
and he fell on his face on the road。 The other was more dangerous。 He
had rushed into the inn； and just as I passed I saw him run out with his
musket in his hand。 He dropped upon one knee； and I stooped forward
over my horse's neck。
A single shot from a Prussian or an Austrian is a small matter； but the
British were at that time the best shots in Europe； and my drunkard
seemed steady enough when he had a gun at his shoulder。 I heard the
crack； and my horse gave a convulsive spring which would have unseated
many a rider。 For an instant I thought he was killed； but when I turned in
my saddle I saw a stream of blood running down the off hind…quarter。 I
looked back at the Englishman； and the brute
