derues-第1章

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Derues

by　Alexandre　Dumas；　Pere




One　September　afternoon　in　1751；　towards　half…past　five；　about　a　score　of　small　boys；　chattering；　pushing；　and　tumbling　over　one　another　like　a　covey　of　partridges；　issued　from　one　of　the　religious　schools　of　Chartres。　　The　joy　of　the　little　troop　just　escaped　from　a　long　and　wearisome　captivity　was　doubly　great：　a　slight　accident　to　one　of　the　teachers　had　caused　the　class　to　be　dismissed　half　an　hour　earlier　than　usual；　and　in　consequence　of　the　extra　work　thrown　on　the　teaching　staff　the　brother　whose　duty　it　was　to　see　all　the　scholars　safe　home　was　compelled　to　omit　that　part　of　his　daily　task。　Therefore　not　only　thirty　or　forty　minutes　were　stolen　from　work；　but　there　was　also　unexpected；　uncontrolled　liberty；　free　from　the　surveillance　of　that　black…cassocked　overseer　who　kept　order　in　their　ranks。　　Thirty　minutes！　at　that　age　it　is　a　century；　of　laughter　and　prospective　games！　　Each　had　promised　solemnly；　under　pain　of　severe　punishment；　to　return　straight　to　his　paternal　nest　without　delay；　but　the　air　was　so　fresh　and　pure；　the　country　smiled　all　around！　The　school；　or　preferably　the　cage；　which　had　just　opened；　lay　at　the　extreme　edge　of　one　of　the　suburbs；　and　it　only　required　a　few　steps　to　slip　under　a　cluster　of　trees　by　a　sparkling　brook　beyond　which　rose　undulating　ground；　breaking　the　monotony　of　a　vast　and　fertile　plain。　　Was　it　possible　to　be　obedient；　to　refrain　from　the　desire　to　spread　one's　wings？　　The　scent　of　the　meadows　mounted　to　the　heads　of　the　steadiest　among　them；　and　intoxicated　even　the　most　timid。　　It　was　resolved　to　betray　the　confidence　of　the　reverend　fathers；　even　at　the　risk　of　disgrace　and　punishment　next　morning；　supposing　the　escapade　were　discovered。

A　flock　of　sparrows　suddenly　released　from　a　cage　could　not　have　flown　more　wildly　into　the　little　wood。　　They　were　all　about　the　same　age；　the　eldest　might　be　nine。　　They　flung　off　coats　and　waistcoats；　and　the　grass　became　strewn　with　baskets；　copy…books；　dictionaries；　and　catechisms。　　While　the　crowd　of　fair…haired　heads；　of　fresh　and　smiling　faces；　noisily　consulted　as　to　which　game　should　be　chosen；　a　boy　who　had　taken　no　part　in　the　general　gaiety；　and　who　had　been　carried　away　by　the　rush　without　being　able　to　escape　sooner；　glided　slyly　away　among　the　trees；　and；　thinking　himself　unseen；　was　beating　a　hasty　retreat；　when　one　of　his　comrades　cried　out

〃Antoine　is　running　away！〃

Two　of　the　best　runners　immediately　started　in　pursuit；　and　the　fugitive；　notwithstanding　his　start；　was　speedily　overtaken；　seized　by　his　collar；　and　brought　back　as　a　deserter。

〃Where　were　you　going？〃　the　others　demanded。

〃Home　to　my　cousins；〃　replied　the　boy；　〃there　is　no　harm　in　that。〃

〃You　canting　sneak！〃　said　another　boy；　putting　his　fist　under　the　captive's　chin；　〃you　were　going　to　the　master　to　tell　of　us。〃

〃Pierre；〃　responded　Antoine；　〃you　know　quite　well　I　never　tell　lies。〃

〃Indeed！only　this　morning　you　pretended　I　had　taken　a　book　you　had　lost；　and　you　did　it　because　I　kicked　you　yesterday；　and　you　didn't　dare　to　kick　me　back　again。〃

Antoine　lifted　his　eyes　to　heaven；　and　folding　his　arms　on　his　breast

Dear　Buttel；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　mistaken；　I　have　always　been　taught　to　forgive　injuries。〃

〃Listen；　listen！　　he　might　be　saying　his　prayers！〃　cried　the　other　boys；　and　a　volley　of　offensive　epithets；　enforced　by　cuffs；　was　hurled　at　the　culprit。

Pierre　Buttel；　whose　influence　was　great；　put　a　stop　to　this　onslaught。

〃Look　here；　Antoine；　you　are　a　bad　lot；　that　we　all　know；　you　are　a　sneak　and　a　hypocrite。　　It's　time　we　put　a　stop　to　it。　　Take　off　your　coat　and　fight　it　out。　　If　you　like；　we　will　fight　every　morning　and　evening　till　the　end　of　the　month。〃

The　proposition　was　loudly　applauded；　and　Pierre；　turning　up　his　sleeves　as　far　as　his　elbows；　prepared　to　suit　actions　to　words。

The　challenger　assuredly　did　not　realise　the　full　meaning；　of　his　words；　had　he　done　so；　this　chivalrous　defiance　would　simply　have　been　an　act　of　cowardice　on　his　part；　for　there　could　be　no　doubt　as　to　the　victor　in　such　a　conflict。　　The　one　was　a　boy　of　alert　and　gallant　bearing；　strong　upon　his　legs；　supple　and　muscular；　a　vigorous　man　in　embryo；　while　the　other；　not　quite　so　old；　small；　thin；　of　a　sickly　leaden　complexion；　seemed　as　if　he　might　be　blown　away　by　a　strong　puff　of　wind。　　His　skinny　arms　and　legs　hung　on　to　his　body　like　the　claws　of　a　spider；　his　fair　hair　inclined　to　red；　his　white　skin　appeared　nearly　bloodless；　and　the　consciousness　of　weakness　made　him　timid；　and　gave　a　shifty；　uneasy　look　to　his　eyes。　His　whole　expression　was　uncertain；　and　looking　only　at　his　face　it　was　difficult　at　first　sight　to　decide　to　which　sex　he　belonged。　This　confusion　of　two　natures；　this　indefinable　mixture　of　feminine　weakness　without　grace；　and　of　abortive　boyhood；　seemed　to　stamp　him　as　something　exceptional；　unclassable；　and　once　observed；　it　was　difficult　to　take　one's　eyes　from　him。　　Had　he　been　endowed　with　physical　strength　he　would　have　been　a　terror　to　his　comrades；　exercising　by　fear　the　ascendancy　which　Pierre　owed　to　his　joyous　temper　and　unwearied　gaiety；　for　this　mean　exterior　concealed　extraordinary　powers　of　will　and　dissimulation。　　Guided　by　instinct；　the　other　children　hung　about　Pierre　and　willingly　accepted　his　leadership；　by　instinct　also　they　avoided　Antoine；　repelled　by　a　feeling　of　chill；　as　if　from　the　neighbourhood　of　a　reptile；　and　shunning　him　unless　to　profit　in　some　way　by　their　superior　strength。　Never　would　he　join　their　games　without　compulsion；　his　thin；　colourless　lips　seldom　parted　for　a　laugh；　and　even　at　that　tender　age　his　smile　had　an　unpleasantly　sinister　expression。；

〃Will　you　fight？〃　again　demanded　Pierre。

Antoine　glanced　hastily　round；　there　was　no　chance　of　escape；　a　double　ring　enclosed　him。　　To　accept　or　refuse　seemed　about　equally　risky；　he　ran　a　good　chance　of　a　thrashing　whichever　way　he　decided。　Although　his　heart　beat　loudly；　no　trace　of　emotion　appeared　on　his　pallid　cheek；　an　unforeseen　danger　would　have　made　him　shriek；　but　he　had　had　time　to　collect　himself；　time　to　shelter　behind　hypocrisy。　As　soon　as　he　could　lie　and　cheat　he　recovered　courage；　and　the　instinct　of　cunning；　once　roused；　prevailed　over　everything　else。　Instead　of　answering　this　second　challenge；　he　knelt　down　and　said　to　Pierre

〃You　are　much　stronger　than　I　am。〃

This　submission　disarmed　his　antagonist。　　〃Get　up；〃　he　replied；　〃I　won't　touch　you；　if　you　can't　defend　yourself。

〃Pierre；〃　continued　Antoine；　still　on　his　knees；　〃I　assure　you；　by　God　and　the　Holy　Virgin；　I　was　not　going　to　tell。　　I　was　going　home　to　my　cousins　to　learn　my　lessons　for　to…morrow；　you　know　how　slow　I　am。　　If　you　think　I　have　done　you　any　harm；　I　ask　your　forgiveness。〃

Pierre　held　out　his　hand　and　made　him　get　up。

〃Will　you　be　a　good　fellow；　Antoine；　and　play　with　us？〃

〃Yes；　I　will。〃

〃All　right；　then；　let　us　forget　all　about　it。〃

〃What　are　we　to　play　at？〃　asked　Antoine；　taking　off　his　coat。

〃Thieves　and　archers；〃　cried　one　of　the　boys。。。。

〃Splendid！〃　said　Pierre；　and　using　his　acknowledged　authority；　he　divided　them　into　two　sidesten　highwaymen；　whom　he　was　to　command；　and　ten　archers　of　the　guard；　who　were　to　pursue　them；　Antoine　was　among　the　latter。

The　highwaymen；　armed　with　swords　and　guns　obtained　from　the　willows　which　grew　along　the　brook；　moved　off　first；　and　gained　the　valleys　between　the　little　hills　beyond　the　wood。　　The　fight　was　to　be　serious；　and　any　prisoner　on　either　side　was　to　be　tried　immediately。　The　robbers　divided　into　twos　and　threes；　and　hid　themselves　in　the　ravines。

A　few　minutes　later　the　archers　started　in　pursuit。　　There　were　encounters；　surprises；　skirmishes；　but　whenever　it　came　to　close　quarters；　Pierre's　men；　skilfully　distributed；　united　on　hearing　his　whistle；　and　the　Army　of　justice　had　to　retreat。　　But　there　came　a　time　when　this　magic　signal　was　no　longer　heard；　and　the　robbers　became　uneasy；　and　remained　crouching　in　their　hiding…places。　Pierre；　over…daring；　had　undertaken　to　defend　alone　the　entrance　of　a　dangerous　passage　and　to　stop　the　whole　hostile　troop　there。　　Whilst　he　kept　them　engaged；　half　of　his　men；　concealed　on　the　left；　were　to　come　round　the　foot　of　the　hill　and　make　a　rush　on　hearing　his　whistle；　the　other　half；　also　stationed　at　some；　little　distance；　were　to　execute　the　same　manoeuvre　from　above。　　The　archers　would　be　caught　in　a　trap；　and　attacked　both　in　front　and　rear；　would　be　obliged　to　surrender　at　discretion。　　Chance；　which　not　unfrequently　decides　the　fate　of　a　battle；　defeated　this　excellent　stratagem。　Watching　intently；　Pierre　failed　to　perceive　that　while　his　whole　attention　was　given　to　the　ground　in　front；　the　archers　had　taken　an　entirely　different　road　from　the　one　they　ought　to　have　followed　if　his　combination　were　to　succeed。　　They　suddenly　fell　upon　him　from　behind；　and　before　he　could　blow　his　whistle；　they　gagged　him　with　a　handkerchief　and　tied　his　hands。　　Six　remained　to　keep　the　field　of　battle　and　disperse　the　hostile　band；　now　deprived　of　its　chief；　the　remaining　four　conveyed　Pierre　to　the　little　wood；　while　the　robbers；　hearing　no　signal；　did　not　venture　to　stir。　　According　to　agreement；　Pierre　Buttel　was　tried　by　the　archers；　who　promptly　transformed　themselves　into　a　court　of　justice；　and　as　he　had　been　taken　red…handed；　and　did　not　condescend　to　defend　himself；　the　trial　was　not　a　long　affair。　　He　was　unanimously　sentenced　to　be　hung；　and　the　execution　was　then　and　there　carried　out；　at　the　request　of　the　criminal　himself；　who　wanted　the　game　to　be　properly　played　to　the　end；　and　who　actually　selected　a　suitable　tree　for　his　own　execution。

〃But；　Pierre；〃　said　one　of　the　judges；　〃how　can　you　be　held　up　there？〃

〃How　stupid　you　are！〃　returned　the　captive。　　〃I　shall　only　pretend　to　be　hung；　of　course。　　See　here！〃　and　he　fastened　together　several　pieces　strong　string　which　had　tied　some　of　the　other　boys'　books；　piled　the　latter　together；　and　standing　on　tiptoe　on　this　very　insecure　basis；　fastened　one　end　of　the　cord　to　a　horizontal　bough；　and　put　his　neck　into　a　running　knot　at　the　other　end；　endeavouring　to　imitate　the　contortions　of　an　actual　sufferer。　　Shouts　of　laughter　greeted　him；　and　the　victim　laughed　loudest　of　all。　　Three　archers　went　to　call　the　rest　to　behold　this　amusing　spectacle；　one；　tired　out；　remained　with　the　prisoner。

〃Ah；　Hangman；〃　said　Pierre；　putting　out　his　tongue　at　him；　〃are　the　books　firm？　　I　thought　I　felt　them　give　way。〃

〃No；〃　replied　Antoine；　it　was　he　who　remained。　　〃Don't　be　afraid；　Pierre。〃

〃It　is　a　good　thing；　for　if　they　fell　I　don't　think　the　cord　is　long　enough。〃

〃Don't　you　really　think　so？〃

A　horrible　thought　showed　itself　like　a　flash　on　the　child's　face。　He　resembled　a　young　hyena　scenting　blood　for　the　first　time。　　He　glanced　at　the　pile　of　books　Pierre　was　standing　on；　and　compared　it　with　the　length　of　the　cord　between　the　branch　and　his　neck。　　It　was　already　nearly　dark；　the　shadows　were　deepening　in　the　wood；　gleams　of　pale　light　penetrated　between　the　trees；　the　leaves　had　become　black　and　rustled　in　the　wind。　　Antoine　stood　silent　and　motionless；　listening　if　any　sound　could　be　heard　near　them。

It　would　b