the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第35章
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and only one of them； a grey…whiskered sergeant； remained。
There were Soult； Lobau； and Bertrand； but； for all their talents； I had
rather； when it came to hard knocks； have a single quartermaster…sergeant
of Hussars at my side than the three of them put together。 There
remained the Emperor himself； the coachman； and a valet of the household
who had joined us at Charleroieight all told； but of the eight only two；
the Chasseur and I； were fighting soldiers who could be depended upon at
a pinch。 A chill came over me as I reflected how utterly helpless we were。
At that moment I raised my eyes； and there were the nine Prussian
horsemen coming over the hill。
On either side of the road at this point are long stretches of rolling
plain； part of it yellow with corn and part of it rich grass land watered by
the Sambre。 To the south of us was a low ridge； over which was the road
to France。 Along this road the little group of cavalry was riding。 So
well had Count Stein obeyed his instructions that he had struck far to the
south of us in his determination to get ahead of the Emperor。 Now he
was riding from the direction in which we were going the last in which
we could expect an enemy。 When I caught that first glimpse of them they
were still half a mile away。
〃Sire！〃 I cried； 〃the Prussians！〃
They all started and stared。 It was the Emperor who broke the
silence。
〃Who says they are Prussians？〃
〃I do； SireI； Etienne Gerard！〃
Unpleasant news always made the Emperor furious against the man
who broke it。 He railed at me now in the rasping； croaking； Corsican
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voice which only made itself heard when he had lost his self…control。
〃You were always a buffoon；〃 he cried。 〃What do you mean； you
numskull； by saying that they are Prussians？
How could Prussians be coming from the direction of France？ You
have lost any wits that you ever possessed。〃
His words cut me like a whip； and yet we all felt toward the Emperor
as an old dog does to its master。
His kick is soon forgotten and forgiven。 I would not argue or justify
myself。 At the first glance I had seen the two white stockings on the
forelegs of the leading horse； and I knew well that Count Stein was on its
back。
For an instant the nine horsemen had halted and surveyed us。 Now
they put spurs to their horses； and with a yell of triumph they galloped
down the road。 They had recognised that their prey was in their power。
At that swift advance all doubt had vanished。 〃By heavens； Sire； it is
indeed the Prussians！〃 cried Soult。
Lobau and Bertrand ran about the road like two frightened hens。 The
sergeant of Chasseurs drew his sabre with a volley of curses。 The
coachman and the valet cried and wrung their hands。 Napoleon stood
with a frozen face； one foot on the step of the carriage。 And Iah； my
friends； I was magnificent！ What words can I use to do justice to my
own bearing at that supreme instant of my life？ So coldly alert； so
deadly cool； so clear in brain and ready in hand。 He had called me a
numskull and a buffoon。 How quick and how noble was my revenge！
When his own wits failed him； it was Etienne Gerard who supplied the
want。
To fight was absurd； to fly was ridiculous。 The Emperor was stout；
and weary to death。 At the best he was never a good rider。 How could
he fly from these； the picked men of an army？ The best horseman in
Prussia was among them。 But I was the best horseman in France。 I； and
only I； could hold my own with them。 If they were on my track instead
of the Emperor's； all might still be well。 These were the thoughts which
flashed so swiftly through my mind that in an instant I had sprung from
the first idea to the final conclusion。 Another instant carried me from the
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final conclusion to prompt and vigorous action。 I rushed to the side of
the Emperor； who stood petrified； with the carriage between him and our
enemies。 〃Your coat； Sire！ your hat！〃 I cried。 I dragged them of him。
Never had he been so hustled in his life。 In an instant I had them on
and had thrust him into the carriage。 The next I had sprung on to his
famous white Arab and had ridden clear of the group upon the road。
You have already divined my plan； but you may well ask how could I
hope to pass myself off as the Emperor。
My figure is as you still see it； and his was never beautiful； for he was
both short and stout。 But a man's height is not remarked when he is in
the saddle； and for the rest one had but to sit forward on the horse and
round one's back and carry oneself like a sack of flour。 I wore the little
cocked hat and the loose grey coat with the silver star which was known to
every child from one end of Europe to the other。 Beneath me was the
Emperor's own famous white charger。 It was complete。
Already as I rode clear the Prussians were within two hundred yards of
us。 I made a gesture of terror and despair with my hands； and I sprang
my horse over the bank which lined the road。 It was enough。 A yell of
exultation and of furious hatred broke from the Prussians。
It was the howl of starving wolves who scent their prey。 I spurred my
horse over the meadow…land and looked back under my arm as I rode。
Oh； the glorious moment when one after the other I saw eight horsemen
come over the bank at my heels！ Only one had stayed behind； and I
heard shouting and the sounds of a struggle。 I remembered my old
sergeant of Chasseurs； and I was sure that number nine would trouble us
no more。 The road was clear and the Emperor free to continue his
journey。
But now I had to think of myself。 If I were overtaken the Prussians
would certainly make short work of me in their disappointment。 If it
were soif I lost my lifeI should still have sold it at a glorious price。
But I had hopes that I might shake them off。 With ordinary horsemen
upon ordinary horses I should have had no difficulty in doing so； but here
both steeds and riders were of the best。 It was a grand creature that I
rode； but it was weary with its long night's work； and the Emperor was one
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of those riders who do not know how to manage a horse。 He had little
thought far them and a heavy hand upon their mouths。 On the other hand；
Stein and his men had come both far and fast。 The race was a fair one。
So quick had been my impulse； and so rapidly had I acted upon it； that
I had not thought enough of my own safety。 Had I done so in the first
instance I should； of course； have ridden straight back the way we had
come； for so I should have met our own people。 But I was off the road
and had galloped a mile over the plain before this occurred to me。 Then
when I looked back I saw that the Prussians had spread out into a long line；
so as to head me off from the Charleroi road。 I could not turn back； but
at least I could edge toward the north。 I knew that the whole face of the
country was covered with our flying troops； and that sooner or later I must
come upon some of them。
But one thing I had forgottenthe Sambre。 In my excitement I never
gave it a thought until I saw it； deep and broad； gleaming in the morning
sunlight。 It barred my path； and the Prussians howled behind me。 I
galloped to the brink； but the horse refused the plunge。 I spurred him；
but the bank was high and the stream deep。
He shrank back trembling and snorting。 The yells of triumph were
louder every instant。 I turned and rode for my life down the river bank。
It formed a loop at this part； and I must get across somehow； for my retreat
was blocked。 Suddenly a thrill of hope ran through me； for I saw a house
on my side of the stream and another on the farther bank。 Where there
are two such houses it usually means that there is a ford between them。
A sloping path led to the brink and I urged my horse down it。 On he
went； the water up to the saddle； the foam flying right and left。 He
blundered once and I thought we were lost； but he recovered and an instant
later was clattering up the farther slope。 As we came out I heard the
splash behind me as the first Prussian took the water。 There was just the
breadth of the Sambre between us。
I rode with my head sunk between my shoulders in Napoleon's fashion；
and I did not dare to look back for fear they should see my moustache。 I
had turned up the collar of the grey coat so as partly to hide it。 Even now
if they found out their mistake they might turn and overtake the carriage。
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But when once we were on the road I could tell by the drumming of their
hoofs how far distant they were； and it seemed to me that the sound grew
perceptibly louder； as if they were slowly gaining upon me。 We were
riding now up the stony and rutted lane which led from the ford。 I
peeped back very cautiously from under my arm and I
