the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第13章
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upon the road。 There I crouched and waited to see what would happen。
It was soon evident that I had not been mistaken when I had thought
that this might be the quarters of some person of importance。 Shortly
after daybreak an English light dragoon arrived with a despatch； and from
then onward the place was in a turmoil； officers continually riding up and
away。 Always the same name was upon their lips： 〃Sir StapletonSir
Stapleton。〃
It was hard for me to lie there with a dry moustache and watch the
great flagons which were brought out by the landlord to these English
officers。 But it amused me to look at their fresh…coloured； clean…shaven；
careless faces； and to wonder what they would think if they knew that so
celebrated a person was lying so near to them。 And then； as I lay and
watched； I saw a sight which filled me with surprise。
It is incredible the insolence of these English！ What do you suppose
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Milord Wellington had done when he found that Massena had blockaded
him and that he could not move his army？ I might give you many
guesses。 You might say that he had raged； that he had despaired； that he
had brought his troops together and spoken to them about glory and the
fatherland before leading them to one last battle。 No； Milord did none of
these things。 But he sent a fleet ship to England to bring him a number
of fox…dogs； and he with his officers settled himself down to chase the fox。
It is true what I tell you。 Behind the lines of Torres Vedras these mad
Englishmen made the fox chase three days in the week。
We had heard of it in the camp； and now I was myself to see that it was
true。
For； along the road which I have described； there came these very dogs；
thirty or forty of them； white and brown； each with its tail at the same
angle； like the bayonets of the Old Guard。 My faith； but it was a pretty
sight！ And behind and amidst them there rode three men with peaked
caps and red coats； whom I understood to be the hunters。 After them
came many horsemen with uniforms of various kinds； stringing along the
roads in twos and threes； talking together and laughing。
They did not seem to be going above a trot； and it appeared to me that
it must indeed be a slow fox which they hoped to catch。 However； it was
their affair； not mine； and soon they had all passed my window and were
out of sight。 I waited and I watched； ready for any chance which might
offer。
Presently an officer； in a blue uniform not unlike that of our flying
artillery； came cantering down the roadan elderly； stout man he was； with
grey side…whiskers。 He stopped and began to talk with an orderly officer
of dragoons； who waited outside the inn； and it was then that I learned the
advantage of the English which had been taught me。 I could hear and
understand all that was said。
〃Where is the meet？〃 said the officer； and I thought that he was
hungering for his bifstek。 But the other answered him that it was near
Altara； so I saw that it was a place of which he spoke。
〃You are late； Sir George；〃 said the orderly。
〃Yes； I had a court…martial。 Has Sir Stapleton Cotton gone？〃
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At this moment a window opened； and a handsome young man in a
very splendid uniform looked out of it。
〃Halloa； Murray！〃 said he。 〃These cursed papers keep me； but I will
be at your heels。〃
〃Very good； Cotton。 I am late already； so I will ride on。〃
〃You might order my groom to bring round my horse；〃 said the young
General at the window to the orderly below； while the other went on down
the road。
The orderly rode away to some outlying stable； and then in a few
minutes there came a smart English groom with a cockade in his hat；
leading by the bridle a horse and； oh； my friends； you have never known
the perfection to which a horse can attain until you have seen a first… class
English hunter。 He was superb： tall； broad； strong； and yet as graceful
and agile as a deer。 Coal black he was in colour； and his neck； and his
shoulder； and his quarters； and his fetlockshow can I describe him all to
you？ The sun shone upon him as on polished ebony； and he raised his
hoofs in a little playful dance so lightly and prettily； while he tossed his
mane and whinnied with impatience。 Never have I seen such a mixture
of strength and beauty and grace。 I had often wondered how the English
Hussars had managed to ride over the chasseurs of the Guards in the affair
at Astorga； but I wondered no longer when I saw the English horses。
There was a ring for fastening bridles at the door of the inn； and the
groom tied the horse there while he entered the house。 In an instant I had
seen the chance which Fate had brought to me。 Were I in that saddle I
should be better off than when I started。 Even Voltigeur could not
compare with this magnificent creature。 To think is to act with me。 In
one instant I was down the ladder and at the door of the stable。 The next
I was out and the bridle was in my hand。 I bounded into the saddle。
Somebody； the master or the man； shouted wildly behind me。 What
cared I for his shouts！ I touched the horse with my spurs and he bounded
forward with such a spring that only a rider like myself could have sat him。
I gave him his head and let him goit did not matter to me where； so long
as we left this inn far behind us。 He thundered away across the vineyards；
and in a very few minutes I had placed miles between myself and my
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pursuers。 They could no longer tell in that wild country in which
direction I had gone。 I knew that I was safe； and so； riding to the top of a
small hill； I drew my pencil and note…book from my pocket and proceeded
to make plans of those camps which I could see and to draw the outline of
the country。
He was a dear creature upon whom I sat； but it was not easy to draw
upon his back； for every now and then his two ears would cock； and he
would start and quiver with impatience。 At first I could not understand
this trick of his； but soon I observed that he only did it when a peculiar
noise〃yoy； yoy； yoy〃came from somewhere among the oak woods
beneath us。 And then suddenly this strange cry changed into a most
terrible screaming； with the frantic blowing of a horn。 Instantly he went
madthis horse。 His eyes blazed。 His mane bristled。 He bounded
from the earth and bounded again； twisting and turning in a frenzy。 My
pencil flew one way and my note…book another。 And then； as I looked
down into the valley； an extraordinary sight met my eyes。
The hunt was streaming down it。 The fox I could not see； but the
dogs were in full cry； their noses down； their tails up； so close together that
they might have been one great yellow and white moving carpet。 And
behind them rode the horsemenmy faith； what a sight！ Consider every
type which a great army could show。 Some in hunting dress； but the
most in uniforms： blue dragoons； red dragoons； red…trousered hussars；
green riflemen； artillerymen； gold…slashed lancers； and most of all red； red；
red； for the infantry officers ride as hard as the cavalry。
Such a crowd； some well mounted； some ill； but all flying along as
best they might； the subaltern as good as the general； jostling and pushing；
spurring and driving； with every thought thrown to the winds save that
they should have the blood of this absurd fox！ Truly； they are an
extraordinary people； the English！
But I had little time to watch the hunt or to marvel at these islanders；
for of all these mad creatures the very horse upon which I sat was the
maddest。 You understand that he was himself a hunter； and that the
crying of these dogs was to him what the call of a cavalry trumpet in the
street yonder would be to me。 It thrilled him。 It drove him wild。
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Again and again he bounded into the air； and then； seizing the bit between
his teeth； he plunged down the slope and galloped after the dogs。
I swore； and tugged； and pulled； but I was powerless。
This English General rode his horse with a snaffle only； and the beast
had a mouth of iron。 It was useless to pull him back。 One might as well
try to keep a grenadier from a wine…bottle。 I gave it up in despair； and；
settling down in the saddle； I prepared for the worst which could befall。
What a creature he was！ Never have I felt such a horse between my
knees。 His great haunches gathered under him with every stride； and he
shot forward ever faster and faster； stretched like a greyhound； while the
wind beat in my face and whistled past my ears。 I was wearing our
undress jacket； a uniform simple and dark in itselfthough some figures
give distinction to any uniformand I had taken the precaution to remove
the long panache from my busby。 The result was that； amidst the mixture
of costumes in the hunt； there was no reason why mine should attract
attention； or why these men； whose thoughts were all with the chase；
should give any heed to me。 The idea that a French officer might be
riding with them was too
