the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第24节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 80…
THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
we halted upon the bare shoulder of a hill over which our path curled。
Looking back we saw the red glow of the embers of the beacon as if
volcanic fires were bursting from the tall peak of Merodal。 And then； as I
gazed； I saw something else something which caused me to shriek with
joy and to fall upon the ground； rolling in my delight。 For； far away upon
the southern horizon； there winked and twinkled one great yellow light；
throbbing and flaming； the light of no house； the light of no star； but the
answering beacon of Mount d'Ossa； which told that the army of Clausel
knew what Etienne Gerard had been sent to tell them。
80
… Page 81…
THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
V。 How the Brigadier Triumphed in
England
I have told you； my friends； how I triumphed over the English at the
fox…hunt when I pursued the animal so fiercely that even the herd of
trained dogs was unable to keep up； and alone with my own hand I put
him to the sword。 Perhaps I have said too much of the matter； but there
is a thrill in the triumphs of sport which even warfare cannot give； for in
warfare you share your successes with your regiment and your army； but
in sport it is you yourself unaided who have won the laurels。 It is an
advantage which the English have over us that in all classes they take
great interest in every form of sport。 It may be that they are richer than
we； or it may be that they are more idle： but I was surprised when I was a
prisoner in that country to observe how widespread was this feeling； and
how much it filled the minds and the lives of the people。 A horse that
will run； a cock that will fight； a dog that will kill rats； a man that will box…
…they would turn away from the Emperor in all his glory in order to look
upon any of these。
I could tell you many stories of English sport； for I saw much of it
during the time that I was the guest of Lord Rufton； after the order for my
exchange had come to England。 There were months before I could be
sent back to France； and during this time I stayed with this good Lord
Rufton at his beautiful house of High Combe； which is at the northern end
of Dartmoor。 He had ridden with the police when they had pursued me
from Princetown； and he had felt toward me when I was overtaken as I
would myself have felt had I； in my own country； seen a brave and
debonair soldier without a friend to help him。 In a word； he took me to
his house； clad me； fed me； and treated me as if he had been my brother。
I will say this of the English； that they were always generous enemies； and
very good people with whom to fight。
In the Peninsula the Spanish outposts would present their muskets at
ours； but the British their brandy…flasks。 And of all these generous men
there was none who was the equal of this admirable milord； who held out
81
… Page 82…
THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
so warm a hand to an enemy in distress。
Ah！ what thoughts of sport it brings back to me； the very name of High
Combe！ I can see it now； the long； low brick house； warm and ruddy；
with white plaster pillars before the door。 He was a great sportsman； this
Lord Rufton； and all who were about him were of the same sort。 But you
will be pleased to hear that there were few things in which I could not hold
my own； and in some I excelled。 Behind the house was a wood in which
pheasants were reared； and it was Lord Rufton's joy to kill these birds；
which was done by sending in men to drive them out while he and his
friends stood outside and shot them as they passed。 For my part； I was
more crafty； for I studied the habits of the bird； and stealing out in the
evening I was able to kill a number of them as they roosted in the trees。
Hardly a single shot was wasted； but the keeper was attracted by the sound
of the firing； and he implored me in his rough English fashion to spare
those that were left。 That night I was able to place twelve birds as a
surprise upon Lord Rufton's supper… table； and he laughed until he cried；
so overjoyed was he to see them。 〃Gad； Gerard； you'll be the death of me
yet！〃 he cried。 Often he said the same thing； for at every turn I amazed
him by the way in which I entered into the sports of the English。
There is a game called cricket which they play in the summer； and this
also I learned。 Rudd； the head gardener； was a famous player of cricket；
and so was Lord Rufton himself。 Before the house was a lawn； and here
it was that Rudd taught me the game。 It is a brave pastime； a game for
soldiers； for each tries to strike the other with the ball； and it is but a small
stick with which you may ward it off。 Three sticks behind show the spot
beyond which you may not retreat。 I can tell you that it is no game for
children； and I will confess that； in spite of my nine campaigns； I felt
myself turn pale when first the ball flashed past me。 So swift was it that I
had not time to raise my stick to ward it off； but by good fortune it missed
me and knocked down the wooden pins which marked the boundary。 It
was for Rudd then to defend himself and for me to attack。 When I was a
boy in Gascony I learned to throw both far and straight； so that I made
sure that I could hit this gallant Englishman。
With a shout I rushed forward and hurled the ball at him。 It flew as
82
… Page 83…
THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
swift as a bullet toward his ribs； but without a word he swung his staff and
the ball rose a surprising distance in the air。 Lord Rufton clapped his
hands and cheered。 Again the ball was brought to me； and again it was
for me to throw。 This time it flew past his head； and it seemed to me that
it was his turn to look pale。
But he was a brave man； this gardener； and again he faced me。 Ah；
my friends； the hour of my triumph had come！ It was a red waistcoat that
he wore； and at this I hurled the ball。 You would have said that I was a
gunner； not a hussar； for never was so straight an aim。 With a despairing
crythe cry of the brave man who is beaten he fell upon the wooden
pegs behind him； and they all rolled upon the ground together。 He was
cruel； this English milord； and he laughed so that he could not come to the
aid of his servant。 It was for me； the victor； to rush forward to embrace
this intrepid player； and to raise him to his feet with words of praise； and
encouragement； and hope。 He was in pain and could not stand erect； yet
the honest fellow confessed that there was no accident in my victory。
〃He did it a…purpose！ He did it a…purpose！〃
Again and again he said it。 Yes； it is a great game this cricket； and I
would gladly have ventured upon it again but Lord Rufton and Rudd said
that it was late in the season； and so they would play no more。
How foolish of me； the old； broken man； to dwell upon these successes；
and yet I will confess that my age has been very much soothed and
comforted by the memory of the women who have loved me and the men
whom I have overcome。 It is pleasant to think that five years afterward；
when Lord Rufton came to Paris after the peace； he was able to assure me
that my name was still a famous one in the north of Devonshire for the
fine exploits that I had performed。 Especially； he said； they still talked
over my boxing match with the Honourable Baldock。 It came about in
this way。 Of an evening many sportsmen would assemble at the house of
Lord Rufton； where they would drink much wine； make wild bets； and talk
of their horses and
