the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第25章
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Gerard。〃 He unhooked a lantern from the roof of the waggon and he laid
it on a map which was stretched before him。 〃To the south of us；〃 said he；
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〃there lies the town of Minsk。 I have word from a Russian deserter that
much corn has been stored in the town… hall。 I wish you to take as many
men as you think best； set forth for Minsk； seize the corn； load any carts
which you may collect in the town； and bring them to me between here
and Smolensk。 If you fail it is but a detachment cut off。 If you succeed
it is new life to the army。〃
He had not expressed himself well； for it was evident that if we failed
it was not merely the loss of a detachment。 It is quality as well as
quantity which counts。
And yet how honourable a mission and how glorious a risk！ If mortal
men could bring it； then the corn should come from Minsk。 I said so； and
spoke a few burning words about a brave man's duty until the Marshal was
so moved that he rose and； taking me affectionately by the shoulders；
pushed me out of the waggon。
It was clear to me that in order to succeed in my enterprise I should
take a small force and depend rather upon surprise than upon numbers。 A
large body could not conceal itself； would have great difficulty in getting
food； and would cause all the Russians around us to concentrate for its
certain destruction。 On the other hand； if a small body of cavalry could
get past the Cossacks unseen it was probable that they would find no
troops to oppose them； for we knew that the main Russian army was
several days' march behind us。 This corn was meant； no doubt； for their
consumption。 A squadron of Hussars and thirty Polish Lancers were all
whom I chose for the venture。 That very night we rode out of the camp；
and struck south in the direction of Minsk。
Fortunately there was but a half moon； and we were able to pass
without being attacked by the enemy。 Twice we saw great fires burning
amid the snow； and around them a thick bristle of long poles。 These were
the lances of Cossacks； which they had stood upright while they slept。 It
would have been a great joy to us to have charged in amongst them； for we
had much to revenge； and the eyes of my comrades looked longingly from
me to those red flickering patches in the darkness。 My faith； I was sorely
tempted to do it； for it would have been a good lesson to teach them that
they must keep a few miles between themselves and a French army。 It is
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the essence of good generalship； however； to keep one thing before one at
a time； and so we rode silently on through the snow； leaving these Cossack
bivouacs to right and left。 Behind us the black sky was all mottled with a
line of flame which showed where our own poor wretches were trying to
keep themselves alive for another day of misery and starvation。
All night we rode slowly onward； keeping our horses' tails to the Pole
Star。 There were many tracks in the snow； and we kept to the line of
these； that no one might remark that a body of cavalry had passed that
way。
These are the little precautions which mark the experienced officer。
Besides； by keeping to the tracks we were most likely to find the villages；
and only in the villages could we hope to get food。 The dawn of day
found us in a thick fir…wood； the trees so loaded with snow that the light
could hardly reach us。 When we had found our way out of it it was full
daylight； the rim of the rising sun peeping over the edge of the great snow…
plain and turning it crimson from end to end。 I halted my Hussars and
Lancers under the shadow of the wood； and I studied the country。 Close
to us there was a small farm…house。 Beyond； at the distance of several
miles； was a village。 Far away on the sky…line rose a considerable town
all bristling with church towers。 This must be Minsk。 In no direction
could I see any signs of troops。 It was evident that we had passed
through the Cossacks and that there was nothing between us and our goal。
A joyous shout burst from my men when I told them our position； and we
advanced rapidly toward the village。
I have said； however； that there was a small farm… house immediately
in front of us。 As we rode up to it I observed that a fine grey horse with a
military saddle was tethered by the door。 Instantly I galloped forward；
but before I could reach it a man dashed out of the door； flung himself on
to the horse； and rode furiously away； the crisp； dry snow flying up in a
cloud behind him。 The sunlight gleamed upon his gold epaulettes； and I
knew that he was a Russian officer。 He would raise the whole country…
side if we did not catch him。 I put spurs to Violette and flew after him。
My troopers followed； but there was no horse among them to compare
with Violette； and I knew well that if I could not catch the Russian I need
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expect no help from them。
But it is a swift horse indeed and a skilful rider who can hope to
escape from Violette with Etienne Gerard in the saddle。 He rode well；
this young Russian； and his mount was a good one； but gradually we wore
him down。
His face glanced continually over his shoulderdark； handsome face；
with eyes like an eagleand I saw as I closed with him that he was
measuring the distance between us。 Suddenly he half turned； there were
a flash and a crack as his pistol bullet hummed past my ear。
Before he could draw his sword I was upon him； but he still spurred
his horse； and the two galloped together over the plain； I with my leg
against the Russian's and my left hand upon his right shoulder。 I saw his
hand fly up to his mouth。 Instantly I dragged him across my pommel and
seized him by the throat； so that he could not swallow。 His horse shot
from under him； but I held him fast and Violette came to a stand。
Sergeant Oudin of the Hussars was the first to join us。 He was an old
soldier； and he saw at a glance what I was after。
〃Hold tight； Colonel；〃 said he； 〃I'll do the rest。〃
He slipped out his knife； thrust the blade between the clenched teeth of
the Russian； and turned it so as to force his mouth open。 There； on his
tongue； was the little wad of wet paper which he had been so anxious to
swallow。 Oudin picked it out and I let go of the man's throat。 From the
way in which； half strangled as he was； he glanced at the paper I was sure
that it was a message of extreme importance。 His hands twitched as if he
longed to snatch it from me。 He shrugged his shoulders； however； and
smiled good…humouredly when I apologised for my roughness。
〃And now to business；〃 said I； when he had done coughing and
hawking。 〃What is your name？〃
〃Alexis Barakoff。〃
〃Your rank and regiment？〃
〃Captain of the Dragoons of Grodno。〃
〃What is this note which you were carrying？〃
〃It is a line which I had written to my sweetheart。〃
〃Whose name；〃 said I； examining the address； 〃is the Hetman Platoff。
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Come； come； sir； this is an important military document； which you are
carrying from one general to another。 Tell me this instant what it is。〃
〃Read it and then you will know。〃 He spoke perfect French； as do
most of the educated Russians。 But he knew well that there is not one
French officer in a thousand who knows a word of Russian。 The inside
of the note contained one single line； which ran like this：
〃Pustj Franzuzy pridutt v Minsk。 Min gotovy。〃
I stared at it； and I had to shake my head。 Then I showed it to my
Hussars； but they could make nothing of it。 The Poles were all rough
fellows who could not read or write； save only the sergeant； who came
from Memel； in East Prussia； and knew no Russian。 It was maddening；
for I felt that I had possession of some important secret upon which the
safety of the army might depend； and yet I could make no sense of it。
Again I entreated our prisoner to translate it； and offered him his freedom
if he would do so。 He only smiled at my request。
I could not but admire him； for it was the very smile which I should
have myself smiled had I been in his position。
〃At least；〃 said I； 〃tell us the name of this village。〃
〃It is Dobrova。〃
〃And that is Minsk over yonder； I suppose。〃
〃Yes； that is Minsk。〃
〃Then we shall go to the village and we shall very soon find some one
who will translate this despatch。〃
So we rode onward together； a trooper with his carbine unslung on
either side of our prisoner。 The village was but a little place； and I set a
guard at the ends of the single street； so that no one could escape from it。
It was necessary to call a halt and to find some food for the men and
horses； since they had travelled all night and had a long journey still
before them。
There was one large stone house in the centre of the village； and to this
I rode。 It was the house of the priest a snuffy and ill…favoured old man
who had not a civil answer to any of our questions。 An uglier fellow I
never met； but； my faith； it was very different with his only daughter； who
kept house for him。 She was
