the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第43节
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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 perceived that my
danger came from a single rider； who was far ahead of his comrades。
He was a Hussar； a very tiny fellow； upon a big black horse； and it was
his light weight which had brought him into the foremost place。 It is a
place of honour； but it is also a place of danger； as he was soon to learn。
I felt the holsters； but； to my horror； there were no pistols。 There was a
field…glass in one and the other was stuffed with papers。 My sword had
been left behind with Violette。
Had I only my own weapons and my own little mare I could have
played with these rascals。 But I was not entirely unarmed。 The
Emperor's own sword hung to the saddle。 It was curved and short； the
hilt all crusted with golda thing more fitted to glitter at a review than to
serve a soldier in his deadly need。 I drew it； such as it was； and I waited
my chance。 Every instant the clink and clatter of the hoofs grew nearer。
I heard the panting of the horse； and the fellow shouted some threat at me。
There was a turn in the lane； and as I rounded it I drew up my white Arab
on his haunches。 As we spun round I met the Prussian Hussar face to
face。 He was going too fast to stop； and his only chance was to ride me
down。 Had he done so he might have met his own death； but he would
have injured me or my horse past all hope of escape。 But the fool
flinched as he saw me waiting and flew past me on my right。 I lunged
over my Arab's neck and buried my toy sword in his side。 It must have
been the finest steel and as sharp as a razor； for I hardly felt it enter； and
yet his blood was within three inches of the hilt。 His horse galloped on
and he kept his saddle for a hundred yards before he sank down with his
