the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第44节
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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
face on the mane and then dived over the side of the neck on to the road。
For my own part I was already at his horse's heels。 A few seconds had
sufficed for all that I have told。
I heard the cry of rage and vengeance which rose from the Prussians as
they passed their dead comrade； and I could not but smile as I wondered
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what they could think of the Emperor as a horseman and a swordsman。 I
glanced back cautiously as before； and I saw that none of the seven men
stopped。 The fate of their comrade was nothing compared to the carrying
out of their mission。
They were as untiring and as remorseless as bloodhounds。
But I had a good lead and the brave Arab was still going well。 I
thought that I was safe。 And yet it was at that very instant that the most
terrible danger befell me。 The lane divided； and I took the smaller of the
two divisions because it was the more grassy and the easier for the horse's
hoofs。 Imagine my horror when； riding through a gate； I found myself in
a square of stables and farm…buildings； with no way out save that by which
I had come！ Ah； my friends； if my hair is snowy white； have I not had
enough to make it so？
To retreat was impossible。 I could hear the thunder of the Prussians'
hoofs in the lane。 I looked round me； and Nature has blessed me with
that quick eye which is the first of gifts to any soldier； but most of all to a
leader of cavalry。 Between a long； low line of stables and the farm…house
there was a pig…sty。 Its front was made of bars of wood four feet high；
the back was of stone； higher than the front。 What was beyond I could
not tell。 The space between the front and the back was not more than a
few yards。 It was a desperate venture； and yet I must take it。 Every
instant the beating of those hurrying hoofs was louder and louder。 I put
my Arab at the pig…sty。 She cleared the front beautifully and came down
with her forefeet upon the sleeping pig within； slipping forward upon her
knees。 I was thrown over the wall beyond； and fell upon my hands and
face in a soft flower…bed。 My horse was upon one side of the wall； I
upon the other； and the Prussians were pouring into the yard。 But I was
up in an instant and had seized the bridle of the plunging horse over the
top of the wall。 It was built of loose stones； and I dragged down a few of
them to make a gap。 As I tugged at the bridle and shouted the gallant
creature rose to the leap； and an instant afterward she was by my side and I
with my foot on the stirrup。
An heroic idea had entered my mind as I mounted into the saddle。
These Prussians； if they came over the pig… sty； could only come one at
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once； and their attack would not be formidable when they had not had time
to recover from such a leap。 Why should I not wait and kill them one by
one as they came over？ It was a glorious thought。 They would learn
that Etienne Gerard was not a safe man to hunt。 My hand felt for my
sword； but you can imagine my feelings； my friends； when I came upon an
empty scabbard。 It had been shaken out when the horse had tripped over
that infernal pig。 On what absurd trifles do our destinies hanga pig on
one side； Etienne Gerard on the other！ Could I spring over the wall and
get the sword？ Impossible！ The Prussians were already in the yard。 I
turned my Arab and resumed my flight。
But for a moment it seemed to me that I was in a far worse trap than
before。 I found myself in the garden of the farm…house； an orchard in the
centre and flower… beds all round。 A high wall surrounded the whole
place。 I reflected； however； that there must be some point of entrance；
since every visitor could not be expected to spring over the pig…sty。 I
rode round the wall。 As I expected； I came upon a door with a key upon
the inner side。 I dismounted； unlocked it； opened it； and there was a
Prussian Lancer sitting his horse within six feet of me。
For a moment we each stared at the other。 Then I shut the door and
locked it again。 A crash and a cry came from the other end of the garden。
I understood that one of my enemies had come to grief in trying to get
over the pig…sty。 How could I ever get out of this cul…de…sac？ It was
evident that some of the party had galloped round； while some had
followed straight upon my tracks。 Had I my sword I might have beaten
off the Lancer at the door； but to come out now was to be butchered。 And
yet if I waited some of them would certainly follow me on foot over the
pig…sty； and what could I do then？ I must act at once or I was lost。 But
it is at such moments that my wits are most active and my actions most
prompt。 Still leading my horse； I ran for a hundred yards by the side of
the wall away from the spot where the Lancer was watching。 There I
stopped； and with an effort I tumbled down several of the loose stones
from the top of the wall。 The instant I had done so I hurried back to the
door。 As I had expected； he thought I was making a gap for my escape at
that point； and I heard the thud of his horse's hoofs as he galloped to cut
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me off。 As I reached the gate I looked back； and I saw a green…coated
horseman； whom I knew to be Count Stein； clear the pig…sty and gallop
furiously with a shout of triumph across the garden。
〃Surrender； your Majesty； surrender！〃 he yelled； 〃we will give you
quarter！〃 I slipped through the gate； but had no time to lock it on the
other side。 Stein was at my very heels； and the Lancer had already turned
his horse。 Springing upon my Arab's back； I was off once more with a
clear stretch of grass land before me。 Stein had to dismount to open the
gate； to lead his horse through； and to mount again before he could follow。
It was he that I feared rather than the Lancer； whose horse was coarse…
bred and weary。 I galloped hard for a mile before I ventured to look back；
and then Stein was a musket…shot from me； and the Lancer as much again；
while only three of the others were in sight。 My nine Prussians were
coming down to more manageable numbers； and yet one was too much for
an unarmed man。
It had surprised me that during this long chase I had seen no fugitives
from the army； but I reflected that I was considerably to the west of their
line of flight； and that I must edge more toward the east if I wished to join
them。 Unless I did so it was probable that my pursuers； even if they
could not overtake me themselves； would keep me in view until I was
headed off by some of their comrades coming from the north。 As I
looked to the eastward I saw afar off a line of dust which stretched for
miles across the country。 This was certainly the main road along which
our unhappy army was flying。 But I soon had proof that some of our
stragglers had wandered into these side tracks； for I came suddenly upon a
horse grazing at the corner of a field； and beside him； with his back against
the bank； his master； a French Cuirassier； terribly wounded and evidently
on the point of death。 I sprang down； seized his long； heavy sword； and
rode on with it。 Never shall I forget the poor man's face as he looked at
me with his failing sight。 He was an old； grey…moustached soldier； one
of the real fanatics； and to him this last vision of his Emperor was like a
revelation from on high。
Astonishment； love； prideall shone in his pallid face。 He s
