the chouans-第4章

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ays　doubted；　was　at　an　end。　The　civil　war；　he　felt；　was　about　to　be　renewed；doubtless　more　terrible　than　ever　after　a　cessation　of　three　years。　The　Revolution；　mitigated　by　the　events　of　the　9th　Thermidor；　would　doubtless　return　to　the　old　terrors　which　had　made　it　odious　to　sound　minds。　English　gold　would；　as　formerly；　assist　in　the　national　discords。　The　Republic；　abandoned　by　young　Bonaparte　who　had　seemed　to　be　its　tutelary　genius；　was　no　longer　in　a　condition　to　resist　its　enemies　from　without　and　from　within；the　worst　and　most　cruel　of　whom　were　the　last　to　appear。　The　Civil　War；　already　threatened　by　various　partial　uprisings；　would　assume　a　new　and　far　more　serious　aspect　if　the　Chouans　were　now　to　attack　so　strong　an　escort。　Such　were　the　reflections　that　filled　the　mind　of　the　commander　（though　less　succinctly　formulated）　as　soon　as　he　perceived；　in　the　condition　of　Marche…a…Terre's　clothing；　the　signs　of　an　ambush　carefully　planned。

The　silence　which　followed　the　prophetic　remark　of　the　commandant　to　Gerard　gave　Hulot　time　to　recover　his　self…possession。　The　old　soldier　had　been　shaken。　He　could　not　hinder　his　brow　from　clouding　as　he　felt　himself　surrounded　by　the　horrors　of　a　warfare　the　atrocities　of　which　would　have　shamed　even　cannibals。　Captain　Merle　and　the　adjutant　Gerard　could　not　explain　to　themselves　the　evident　dread　on　the　face　of　their　leader　as　he　looked　at　Marche…a…Terre　eating　his　bread　by　the　side　of　the　road。　But　Hulot's　face　soon　cleared；　he　began　to　rejoice　in　the　opportunity　to　fight　for　the　Republic；　and　he　joyously　vowed　to　escape　being　the　dupe　of　the　Chouans；　and　to　fathom　the　wily　and　impenetrable　being　whom　they　had　done　him　the　honor　to　employ　against　him。

Before　taking　any　resolution　he　set　himself　to　study　the　position　in　which　it　was　evident　the　enemy　intended　to　surprise　him。　Observing　that　the　road　where　the　column　had　halted　was　about　to　pass　through　a　sort　of　gorge；　short　to　be　sure；　but　flanked　with　woods　from　which　several　paths　appeared　to　issue；　he　frowned　heavily；　and　said　to　his　two　friends；　in　a　low　voice　of　some　emotion：

〃We're　in　a　devil　of　a　wasp's…nest。〃

〃What　do　you　fear？〃　asked　Gerard。

〃Fear？　Yes；　that's　it；　/fear/；〃　returned　the　commandant。　〃I　have　always　had　a　fear　of　being　shot　like　a　dog　at　the　edge　of　a　wood；　without　a　chance　of　crying　out　'Who　goes　there？'〃

〃Pooh！〃　said　Merle；　laughing；　〃'Who　goes　there'　is　all　humbug。〃

〃Are　we　in　any　real　danger？〃　asked　Gerard；　as　much　surprised　by　Hulot's　coolness　as　he　was　by　his　evident　alarm。

〃Hush！〃　said　the　commandant；　in　a　low　voice。　〃We　are　in　the　jaws　of　the　wolf；　it　is　as　dark　as　a　pocket；　and　we　must　get　some　light。　Luckily；　we've　got　the　upper　end　of　the　slope！〃

So　saying；　he　moved；　with　his　two　officers；　in　a　way　to　surround　Marche…a…Terre；　who　rose　quickly；　pretending　to　think　himself　in　the　way。

〃Stay　where　you　are；　vagabond！〃　said　Hulot；　keeping　his　eye　on　the　apparently　indifferent　face　of　the　Breton；　and　giving　him　a　push　which　threw　him　back　on　the　place　where　he　had　been　sitting。

〃Friends；〃　continued　Hulot；　in　a　low　voice；　speaking　to　the　two　officers。　〃It　is　time　I　should　tell　you　that　it　is　all　up　with　the　army　in　Paris。　The　Directory；　in　consequence　of　a　disturbance　in　the　Assembly；　has　made　another　clean　sweep　of　our　affairs。　Those　pentarchs；puppets；　I　call　them；those　directors　have　just　lost　a　good　blade；　Bernadotte　has　abandoned　them。〃

〃Who　will　take　his　place？〃　asked　Gerard；　eagerly。

〃Milet…Mureau；　an　old　blockhead。　A　pretty　time　to　choose　to　let　fools　sail　the　ship！　English　rockets　from　all　the　headlands；　and　those　cursed　Chouan　cockchafers　in　the　air！　You　may　rely　upon　it　that　some　one　behind　those　puppets　pulled　the　wire　when　they　saw　we　were　getting　the　worst　of　it。〃

〃How　getting　the　worst　of　it？〃

〃Our　armies　are　beaten　at　all　points；〃　replied　Hulot；　sinking　his　voice　still　lower。　〃The　Chouans　have　intercepted　two　couriers；　I　only　received　my　despatches　and　last　orders　by　a　private　messenger　sent　by　Bernadotte　just　as　he　was　leaving　the　ministry。　Luckily；　friends　have　written　me　confidentially　about　this　crisis。　Fouche　has　discovered　that　the　tyrant　Louis　XVIII。　has　been　advised　by　traitors　in　Paris　to　send　a　leader　to　his　followers　in　La　Vendee。　It　is　thought　that　Barras　is　betraying　the　Republic。　At　any　rate；　Pitt　and　the　princes　have　sent　a　man；　a　/ci…devant/；　vigorous；　daring；　full　of　talent；　who　intends；　by　uniting　the　Chouans　with　the　Vendeans；　to　pluck　the　cap　of　liberty　from　the　head　of　the　Republic。　The　fellow　has　lately　landed　in　the　Morbihan；　I　was　the　first　to　hear　of　it；　and　I　sent　the　news　to　those　knaves　in　Paris。　'The　Gars'　is　the　name　he　goes　by。　All　those　beasts；〃　he　added；　pointing　to　Marche…a…Terre；　〃stick　on　names　which　would　give　a　stomach…ache　to　honest　patriots　if　they　bore　them。　The　Gars　is　now　in　this　district。　The　presence　of　that　fellow〃and　again　he　signed　to　Marche…a…Terre〃as　good　as　tells　me　he　is　on　our　back。　But　they　can't　teach　an　old　monkey　to　make　faces；　and　you've　got　to　help　me　to　get　my　birds　safe　into　their　cage；　and　as　quick　as　a　flash　too。　A　pretty　fool　I　should　be　if　I　allowed　that　/ci…devant/；　who　dares　to　come　from　London　with　his　British　gold；　to　trap　me　like　a　crow！〃

On　learning　these　secret　circumstances；　and　being　well　aware　that　their　leader　was　never　unnecessarily　alarmed；　the　two　officers　saw　the　dangers　of　the　position。　Gerard　was　about　to　ask　some　questions　on　the　political　state　of　Paris；　some　details　of　which　Hulot　had　evidently　passed　over　in　silence；　but　a　sign　from　his　commander　stopped　him；　and　once　more　drew　the　eyes　of　all　three　to　the　Chouan。　Marche…a…Terre　gave　no　sign　of　disturbance　at　being　watched。　The　curiosity　of　the　two　officers；　who　were　new　to　this　species　of　warfare；　was　greatly　excited　by　this　beginning　of　an　affair　which　seemed　to　have　an　almost　romantic　interest；　and　they　began　to　joke　about　it。　But　Hulot　stopped　them　at　once。

〃God's　thunder！〃　he　cried。　〃Don't　smoke　upon　the　powder…cask；　wasting　courage　for　nothing　is　like　carrying　water　in　a　basket。　Gerard；〃　he　added；　in　the　ear　of　his　adjutant；　〃get　nearer；　by　degrees；　to　that　fellow；　and　watch　him；　at　the　first　suspicious　action　put　your　sword　through　him。　As　for　me；　I　must　take　measures　to　carry　on　the　ball　if　our　unseen　adversaries　choose　to　open　it。〃

The　Chouan　paid　no　attention　to　the　movements　of　the　young　officer；　and　continued　to　play　with　his　whip；　and　fling　out　the　lash　of　it　as　though　he　were　fishing　in　the　ditch。

Meantime　the　commandant　was　saying　to　Merle；　in　a　low　voice：　〃Give　ten　picked　men　to　a　sergeant；　and　post　them　yourself　above　us　on　the　summit　of　this　slope；　just　where　the　path　widens　to　a　ledge；　there　you　ought　to　see　the　whole　length　of　the　route　to　Ernee。　Choose　a　position　where　the　road　is　not　flanked　by　woods；　and　where　the　sergeant　can　overlook　the　country。　Take　Clef…des…Coeurs；　he　is　very　intelligent。　This　is　no　laughing　matter；　I　wouldn't　give　a　farthing　for　our　skins　if　we　don't　turn　the　odds　in　our　favor　at　once。〃

While　Merle　was　executing　this　order　with　a　rapidity　of　which　he　fully　understood　the　importance；　the　commandant　waved　his　right　hand　to　enforce　silence　on　the　soldiers；　who　were　standing　at　ease；　and　laughing　and　joking　around　him。　With　another　gesture　he　ordered　them　to　take　up　arms。　When　quiet　was　restored　he　turned　his　eyes　from　one　end　of　the　road　to　the　other；　listened　with　anxious　attention　as　though　he　hoped　to　detect　some　stifled　sound；　some　echo　of　weapons；　or　steps　which　might　give　warning　of　the　expected　attack。　His　black　eye　seemed　to　pierce　the　woods　to　an　extraordinary　depth。　Perceiving　no　indications　of　danger；　he　next　consulted；　like　a　savage；　the　ground　at　his　feet；　to　discover；　if　possible；　the　trail　of　the　invisible　enemies　whose　daring　was　well　known　to　him。　Desperate　at　seeing　and　hearing　nothing　to　justify　his　fears；　he　turned　aside　from　the　road　and　ascended；　not　without　difficulty；　one　or　two　hillocks。　The　other　officers　and　the　soldiers；　observing　the　anxiety　of　a　leader　in　whom　they　trusted　and　whose　worth　was　known　to　them；　knew　that　his　extreme　watchfulness　meant　danger；　but　not　suspecting　its　imminence；　they　merely　stood　still　and　held　their　breaths　by　instinct。　Like　dogs　endeavoring　to　guess　the　intentions　of　a　huntsman；　whose　orders　are　incomprehensible　to　them　though　they　faithfully　obey　him；　the　soldiers　gazed　in　turn　at　the　valley；　at　the　woods　by　the　roadside；　at　the　stern　face　of　their　leader；　endeavoring　to　read　their　fate。　They　questioned　each　other　with　their　eyes；　and　more　than　one　smile　ran　from　lip　to　lip。

When　Hulot　returned　to　his　men　with　an　anxious　look；　Beau…Pied；　a　young　sergeant　who　passed　for　the　wit　of　his　company；　remarked　in　a　low　voice：　〃Where　the　deuce　have　we　poked　ourselves　that　an　old　trooper　like　Hulot　should　pull　such　a　gloomy　face？　He's　as　solemn　as　a　council　of　war。〃

Hulot　gave　the　speaker　a　stern　look；　silence　being　ordered　in　the　ranks。　In　the　hush　that　ensued；　the　lagging　steps　of　the　conscripts　on　the　creaking　sand　of　the　road　produced　a　recurrent　sound　which　added　a　sort　of　vague　emotion　to　the　general　excitement。　This　indefinable　feeling　can　be　understood　only　by　those　who　have　felt　their　hearts　beat　in　the　silence　of　the　night　from　a　painful　expectation　heightened　by　some　noise；　the　monotonous　recurrence　of　which　seems　to　distil　terror　into　their　minds；　drop　by　drop。

The　thought　of　the　commandant；　as　he　returned　to　his　men；　was：　〃Can　I　be　mistaken？〃　He　glanced；　with　a　concentrated　anger　which　flashed　like　lightning　from　his　eyes；　at　the　stolid；　immovable　Chouan；　a　look　of　savage　irony　which　he　fancied　he　detected　in　the　man's　eyes；　warned　him　not　to　relax　in　his　precautions。　Just　then　Captain　Merle；　having　obeyed　Hulot's　orders；　returned　to　his　side。

〃We　did　well；　captain；〃　said　the　commandant；　〃to　put　the　few　men　whose　patriotism　we　can　count　upon　among　those　conscripts　at　the　rear。　Take　a　dozen　more　of　our　own　bravest　fellows；　with　sub…lieutenant　Lebrun　at　their　head；　and　make　a　rear…guard　of　them；　they'll　support　the　patriots　who　are　there　already；　and　help　to　shove　on　that　flock　of　birds　and　close　up　the　distance　between　us。　I'll　wait　for　you。〃

The　captain　disappeared。　The　commander's　eye　singled　out　four　men　on　whose　intelligence　and　quickness　he　knew　he　might　rely；　and　he　beckoned　to　them；　silently；　with　the　well…known　friendly　gesture　of　moving　the　right　forefinger　rapidly　and　repeatedly　toward　the　nose。　They　came　to　him。

〃You　served　with　me　under　Hoche；〃　he　said；　〃when　we　brought　to　reason　those　brigands　who　call　themselves　'Chasseurs　du　Roi'；　you　know　how　they　hid　themselves　to　swoop　down　on　the　Blues。〃

At　this　commendation　of　their　intelligence　the　four　soldiers　nodded　with　significant　grins。　Their　heroically　martial　faces　wore　that　look　of　careless　resignation　to　fate　which　evidenced　the　fact　that　since　the　struggle　had　begun　between　France　and　Europe；　the　ideas　of　the　private　soldiers　had　never　passed　beyond　the　cartridge…boxes　on　their　backs　or　the　bayonets　in　front　of　them。　With　their　lips　drawn　together　like　a　purse　when　the　strings　are　tightened；　they　looked　at　their　commander　attentively　with　inquiring　eyes。

〃You　know；〃　continued　Hulot；　who　possessed　the　art　of　speaking　picturesquel