the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第9部分
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half moon was shining brightly； and the line of roof stood out dark and
hard against the purple； starry sky。 The tree was in the shadow of the
house。
Slowly I crept from branch to branch until I was near the top。 I had
but to climb along a stout limb in order to reach the wall。 But suddenly
my ears caught the patter of feet； and I cowered against the trunk and tried
to blend myself with its shadow。 A man was coming toward me on the
roof。 I saw his dark figure creeping along； his body crouching； his head
advanced； the barrel of his gun protruding。 His whole bearing was full of
caution and suspicion。 Once or twice he paused； and then came on again
until he had reached the edge of the parapet within a few yards of me。
Then he knelt down； levelled his musket； and fired。
I was so astonished at this sudden crash at my very elbow that I nearly
fell out of the tree。 For an instant I could not be sure that he had not hit
me。 But when I heard a deep groan from below； and the Spaniard leaned
over the parapet and laughed aloud； I understood what had occurred。 It
was my poor； faithful sergeant； who had waited to see the last of me。 The
Spaniard had seen him standing under the tree and had shot him。 You
will think that it was good shooting in the dark； but these people used
trabucos； or blunderbusses； which were filled up with all sorts of stones
and scraps of metal； so that they would hit you as certainly as I have hit a
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pheasant on a branch。 The Spaniard stood peering down through the
darkness； while an occasional groan from below showed that the sergeant
was still living。 The sentry looked round and everything was still and
safe。
Perhaps he thought that he would like to finish of this accursed
Frenchman； or perhaps he had a desire to see what was in his pockets； but
whatever his motive； he laid down his gun； leaned forward； and swung
himself into the tree。 The same instant I buried my knife in his body； and
he fell with a loud crashing through the branches and came with a thud to
the ground。 I heard a short struggle below and an oath or two in French。
The wounded sergeant had not waited long for his vengeance。
For some minutes I did not dare to move； for it seemed certain that
someone would be attracted by the noise。
However； all was silent save for the chimes striking midnight in the
city。 I crept along the branch and lifted myself on to the roof。 The
Spaniard's gun was lying there； but it was of no service to me； since he had
the powder…horn at his belt。 At the same time； if it were found； it would
warn the enemy that something had happened； so I thought it best to drop
it over the wall。
Then I looked round for the means of getting of the roof and down into
the city。
It was very evident that the simplest way by which I could get down
was that by which the sentinel had got up； and what this was soon became
evident。 A voice along the roof called 〃Manuelo！ Manuelo！〃 several
times； and； crouching in the shadow； I saw in the moonlight a bearded
head； which protruded from a trap… door。
Receiving no answer to his summons； the man climbed through；
followed by three other fellows； all armed to the teeth。 You will see here
how important it is not to neglect small precautions； for had I left the
man's gun where I found it； a search must have followed and I should
certainly have been discovered。 As it was； the patrol saw no sign of their
sentry； and thought； no doubt； that he had moved along the line of the
roofs。
They hurried on； therefore； in that direction； and I； the instant that their
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backs were turned； rushed to the open trap…door and descended the flight
of steps which led from it。 The house appeared to be an empty one； for I
passed through the heart of it and out； by an open door； into the street
beyond。
It was a narrow and deserted lane； but it opened into a broader road；
which was dotted with fires； round which a great number of soldiers and
peasants were sleeping。
The smell within the city was so horrible that one wondered how
people could live in it； for during the months that the siege had lasted there
had been no attempt to cleanse the streets or to bury the dead。 Many
people were moving up and down from fire to fire； and among them I
observed several monks。 Seeing that they came and went unquestioned； I
took heart and hurried on my way in the direction of the great square。
Once a man rose from beside one of the fires and stopped me by seizing
my sleeve。 He pointed to a woman who lay motionless on the road； and I
took him to mean that she was dying； and that he desired me to administer
the last offices of the Church。 I sought refuge； however； in the very little
Latin that was left to me。 〃Ora pro nobis；〃 said I； from the depths of my
cowl。 〃Te Deum laudamus。
Ora pro nobis。〃 I raised my hand as I spoke and pointed forward。
The fellow released my sleeve and shrank back in silence； while I； with a
solemn gesture； hurried upon my way。
As I had imagined； this broad boulevard led out into the central square；
which was full of troops and blazing with fires。 I walked swiftly onward；
disregarding one or two people who addressed remarks to me。 I passed
the cathedral and followed the street which had been described to me。
Being upon the side of the city which was farthest from our attack； there
were no troops encamped in it； and it lay in darkness； save for an
occasional glimmer in a window。 It was not difficult to find the house to
which I had been directed； between the wine… shop and the cobbler's。
There was no light within and the door was shut。 Cautiously I pressed
the latch； and I felt that it had yielded。 Who was within I could not tell；
and yet I must take the risk。 I pushed the door open and entered。
It was pitch…dark withinthe more so as I had closed the door behind
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me。 I felt round and came upon the edge of a table。 Then I stood still
and wondered what I should do next； and how I could gain some news of
this Hubert； in whose house I found myself。 Any mistake would cost me
not only my life but the failure of my mission。 Perhaps he did not live
alone。 Perhaps he was only a lodger in a Spanish family； and my visit
might bring ruin to him as well as to myself。 Seldom in my life have I
been more perplexed。 And then； suddenly； something turned my blood
cold in my veins。 It was a voice； a whispering voice； in my very ear。
〃Mon Dieu！〃 cried the voice； in a tone of agony。 〃Oh； mon Dieu！ mon
Dieu！〃 Then there was a dry sob in the darkness； and all was still once
more。
It thrilled me with horror； that terrible voice； but it thrilled me also
with hope； for it was the voice of a Frenchman。
〃Who is there？〃 I asked。
There was a groaning； but no reply。
〃Is that you； Monsieur Hubert？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 sighed the voice； so low that I could hardly hear it。
〃Water； water； for Heaven's sake； water！〃
I advanced in the direction of the sound； but only to come in contact
with the wall。 Again I heard a groan； but this time there could be no
doubt that it was above my head。 I put up my hands； but they felt only
empty air。
〃Where are you？〃 I cried。
〃Here！ Here！〃 whispered the strange； tremulous voice。
I stretched my hand along the wall and I came upon a man's naked foot。
It was as high as my face； and yet； so far as I could feel； it had nothing to
support it。 I staggered back in amazement。 Then I took a tinder… box
from my pocket and struck a light。 At the first flash a man seemed to be
floating in the air in front of me； and I dropped the box in my amazement。
Again with tremulous fingers I struck the flint against the steel； and this
time I lit not only the tinder but the wax taper。 I held it up； and if my
amazement was lessened my horror was increased by that which it
revealed。
The man had been nailed to the wall as a weasel is nailed to the door
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of a barn。 Huge spikes had been driven through his hands and his feet。
The poor wretch was in his last agony； his head sunk upon his shoulder
and his black
