the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第22节
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which lay in a cleft close to the summit of the mountain。 There was the
beacon which had cost me so much； a square stack of wood； immediately
above our heads。 Below were two or three huts which had belonged； no
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doubt； to goatherds； and which were now used to shelter these rascals。
Into one of these I was cast； bound and helpless； and the dead body of my
poor comrade was laid beside me。
I was lying there with the one thought still consuming me； how to wait
a few hours and to get at that pile of fagots above my head； when the door
of my prison opened and a man entered。 Had my hands been free I
should have flown at his throat； for it was none other than de Pombal。 A
couple of brigands were at his heels； but he ordered them back and closed
the door behind him。
〃You villain！〃 said I。
〃Hush！〃 he cried。 〃Speak low； for I do not know who may be
listening； and my life is at stake。 I have some words to say to you；
Colonel Gerard； I wish well to you； as I did to your dead companion。 As
I spoke to you beside his body I saw that we were surrounded； and that
your capture was unavoidable。 I should have shared your fate had I
hesitated。 I instantly captured you myself； so as to preserve the
confidence of the band。
Your own sense will tell you that there was nothing else for me to do。
I do not know now whether I can save you； but at least I will try。〃
This was a new light upon the situation。 I told him that I could not
tell how far he spoke the truth； but that I would judge him by his actions。
〃I ask nothing better；〃 said he。 〃A word of advice to you！ The chief
will see you now。 Speak him fair； or he will have you sawn between two
planks。 Contradict nothing he says。 Give him such information as he
wants。 It is your only chance。 If you can gain time something may
come in our favour。 Now； I have no more time。 Come at once； or
suspicion may be awakened。〃
He helped me to rise； and then； opening the door； he dragged me out
very roughly； and with the aid of the fellows outside he brutally pushed
and thrust me to the place where the guerilla chief was seated； with his
rude followers gathered round him。
A remarkable man was Manuelo； 〃The Smiler。〃 He was fat and florid
and comfortable； with a big； clean… shaven face and a bald head； the very
model of a kindly father of a family。 As I looked at his honest smile I
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could scarcely believe that this was； indeed； the infamous ruffian whose
name was a horror through the English Army as well as our own。 It is
well known that Trent； who was a British officer； afterward had the fellow
hanged for his brutalities。 He sat upon a boulder and he beamed upon me
like one who meets an old acquaintance。
I observed； however； that one of his men leaned upon a long saw； and
the sight was enough to cure me of all delusions。
〃Good evening； Colonel Gerard；〃 said he。 〃We have been highly
honoured by General Massena's staff： Major Cortex one day； Colonel
Duplessis the next； and now Colonel Gerard。 Possibly the Marshal
himself may be induced to honour us with a visit。 You have seen
Duplessis； I understand。 Cortex you will find nailed to a tree down
yonder。 It only remains to be decided how we can best dispose of
yourself。〃
It was not a cheering speech； but all the time his fat face was wreathed
in smiles； and he lisped out his words in the most mincing and amiable
fashion。 Now； however； he suddenly leaned forward； and I read a very
real intensity in his eyes。
〃Colonel Gerard；〃 said he； 〃I cannot promise you your life； for it is not
our custom； but I can give you an easy death or I can give you a terrible
one。 Which shall it be？〃
〃What do you wish me to do in exchange？〃
〃If you would die easy I ask you to give me truthful answers to the
questions which I ask。〃
A sudden thought flashed through my mind。
〃You wish to kill me；〃 said I； 〃it cannot matter to you how I die。 If I
answer your questions； will you let me choose the manner of my own
death？〃
〃Yes； I will；〃 said he； 〃so long as it is before midnight to…night。〃
〃Swear it！〃 I cried。
〃The word of a Portuguese gentleman is sufficient；〃 said he。
〃Not a word will I say until you have sworn it。〃
He flushed with anger and his eyes swept round toward the saw。 But
he understood from my tone that I meant what I said； and that I was not a
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man to be bullied into submission。 He pulled a cross from under his
zammara or jacket of black sheepskin。
〃I swear it；〃 said he。
Oh； my joy as I heard the words！ What an end what an end for the
first swordsman of France！ I could have laughed with delight at the
thought。
〃Now； your questions！〃 said I。
〃You swear in turn to answer them truly？〃
〃I do； upon the honour of a gentleman and a soldier。〃
It was； as you perceive； a terrible thing that I promised； but what was it
compared to what I might gain by compliance？
〃This is a very fair and a very interesting bargain；〃 said he； taking a
note…book from his pocket。
〃Would you kindly turn your gaze toward the French camp？〃
Following the direction of his gesture； I turned and looked down upon
the camp in the plain beneath us。 In spite of the fifteen miles； one could
in that clear atmosphere see every detail with the utmost distinctness。
There were the long squares of our tents and our huts； with the cavalry
lines and the dark patches which marked the ten batteries of artillery。
How sad to think of my magnificent regiment waiting down yonder； and to
know that they would never see their colonel again！ With one squadron
of them I could have swept all these cut…throats of the face of the earth。
My eager eyes filled with tears as I looked at the corner of the camp where
I knew that there were eight hundred men； any one of whom would have
died for his colonel。 But my sadness vanished when I saw beyond the
tents the plumes of smoke which marked the headquarters at Torres Novas。
There was Massena； and； please God； at the cost of my life his mission
would that night be done。 A spasm of pride and exultation filled my
breast。 I should have liked to have had a voice of thunder that I might
call to them； 〃Behold it is I； Etienne Gerard； who will die in order to save
the army of Clausel！〃 It was； indeed； sad to think that so noble a deed
should be done； and that no one should be there to tell the tale。
〃Now；〃 said the brigand chief； 〃you see the camp and you see also the
road which leads to Coimbra。 It is crowded with your fourgons and your
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ambulances。 Does this mean that Massena is about to retreat？〃
One could see the dark moving lines of waggons with an occasional
flash of steel from the escort。 There could； apart from my promise； be no
indiscretion in admitting that which was already obvious。
〃He will retreat；〃 said I。
〃By Coimbra？〃
〃I believe so。〃
〃But the army of Clausel？〃
I shrugged my shoulders。
〃Every path to the south is blocked。 No message can reach them。 If
Massena falls back the army of Clausel is doomed。〃
〃It must take its chance；〃 said I。
〃How many men has he？〃
〃I should say about fourteen thousand。〃
〃How much cavalry？〃
〃One brigade of Montbrun's Division。〃
〃What regiments？〃
〃The 4th Chasseurs； the 9th Hussars； and a regiment of Cuirassiers。〃
〃Quite right；〃 said he； looking at his
