the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第45节
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Astonishment； love； prideall shone in his pallid face。 He said
somethingI fear they were his last words but I had no time to listen；
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and I galloped on my way。
All this time I had been on the meadow…land； which was intersected in
this part by broad ditches。 Some of them could not have been less than
from fourteen to fifteen feet； and my heart was in my mouth as I went at
each of them； for a slip would have been my ruin。
But whoever selected the Emperor's horses had done his work well。
The creature； save when it balked on the bank of the Sambre； never failed
me for an instant。
We cleared everything in one stride。 And yet we could not shake off！
those infernal Prussians。 As I left each water…course behind me I looked
back with renewed hope； but it was only to see Stein on his white…legged
chestnut flying over it as lightly as I had done myself。 He was my enemy；
but I honoured him for the way in which he carried himself that day。
Again and again I measured the distance which separated him from the
next horseman。 I had the idea that I might turn and cut him down； as I
had the Hussar； before his comrade could come to his help。 But the
others had closed up and ere not far behind。 I reflected that this Stein
was probably as fine a swordsman as he was a rider； and that it might take
me some little time to get the better of him。 In that case the others would
come to his aid an I should be lost。 On the whole； it was wiser to
continue my flight。
A road with poplars on either side ran across the plain from east to
west。 It would lead me toward that long line of dust which marked the
French retreat。 I wheeled my horse； therefore； and galloped down it。
As I rode I saw a single house in front of me upon the right； with a great
bush hung over the door to mark it as an inn。 Outside there were several
peasants； but for them I cared nothing。 What frightened me was to see
the gleam of a red coat； which showed that there were British in the place。
However； I could not turn and I could not stop； so there was nothing for it
but to gallop on and to take my chance。 There were no troops in sight； so
these men must be stragglers or marauders； from whom I had little to fear。
As I approached I saw that there were two of them sitting drinking on a
bench outside the inn door。 I saw them stagger to their feet； and it was
evident that they were both very drunk。 One stood swaying in the middle
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of the road。
〃It's Boney！ So help me； it's Boney！〃 he yelled。 He ran with his
hands out to catch me； but luckily for himself his drunken feet stumbled
and he fell on his face on the road。 The other was more dangerous。 He
had rushed into the inn； and just as I passed I saw him run out with his
musket in his hand。 He dropped upon one knee； and I stooped forward
over my horse's neck。
A single shot from a Prussian or an Austrian is a small matter； but the
British were at that time the best shots in Europe； and my drunkard
seemed steady enough when he had a gun at his shoulder。 I heard the
crack； and my horse gave a convulsive spring which would have unseated
many a rider。 For an instant I thought he was killed； but when I turned in
my saddle I saw a stream of blood running down the off hind…quarter。 I
looked back at the Englishman； and the brute had bitten the end off
another cartridge and was ramming it into his musket； but before he had it
primed we were beyond his range。 These men were foot…soldiers and
could not join in the chase； but I heard them whooping and tally…hoing
behind me as if I had been a fox。 The peasants also shouted and ran
through the fields flourishing their sticks。 From all sides I heard cries；
and everywhere were the rushing； waving figures of my pursuers。 To
think of the great Emperor being chivvied over the country…side in this
fashion！ It made me long to have these rascals within the sweep of my
sword。
But now I felt that I was nearing the end of my course。 I had done all
that a man could be expected to dosome would say morebut at last I
had come to a point from which I could see no escape。 The horses of my
pursuers were exhausted； but mine was exhausted and wounded also。 It
was losing blood fast； and we left a red trail upon the white； dusty road。
Already his pace was slackening； and sooner or later he must drop under
me。 I looked back； and there were the five inevitable PrussiansStein a
hundred yards in front； then a Lancer； and then three others riding
together。
Stein had drawn his sword； and he waved it at me。 For my own part I
was determined not to give myself up。
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I would try how many of these Prussians I could take with me into the
other world。 At this supreme moment all the great deeds of my life rose
in a vision before me； and I felt that this； my last exploit； was indeed a
worthy close to such a career。 My death would be a fatal blow to those
who loved me； to my dear mother； to my Hussars； to others who shall be
nameless。 But all of them had my honour and my fame at heart； and I
felt that their grief would be tinged with pride when they learned how I
had ridden and how I had fought upon this last day。 Therefore I hardened
my heart and； as my Arab limped more and more upon his wounded leg； I
drew the great sword which I had taken from the Cuirassier； and I set my
teeth for my supreme struggle。 My hand was in the very act of tightening
the bridle； for I feared that if I delayed longer I might find myself on foot
fighting against five mounted men。
At that instant my eye fell upon something which brought hope to my
heart and a shout of joy to my lips。
From a grove of trees in front of me there projected the steeple of a
village church。 But there could not be two steeples like that； for the
corner of it had crumbled away or been struck by lightning； so that it was
of a most fantastic shape。 I had seen it only two daye｛sic｝ before； and it
was the church of the village of Gosselies。 It was not the hope of
reaching the village which set my heart singing with joy； but it was that I
knew my ground now； and that farm…house not half a mile ahead； with its
gable end sticking out from amid the trees； must be that very farm of St。
Aunay where we had bivouacked； and which I had named to Captain
Sabbatier as the rendezvous of the Hussars of Conflans。 There they were；
my little rascals； if I could but reach them。 With every bound my horse
grew weaker。 Each instant the sound of the pursuit grew louder。 I heard
a gust of crackling German oaths at my very heels。 A pistol bullet sighed
in my ears。 Spurring frantically and beating my poor Arab with the flat
of my sword I kept him at the top of his speed。 The open gate of the
farm…yard lay before me。 I saw the twinkle of steel within。 Stein's
horse's head was within ten yards of me as I thundered through。
〃To me； comrades！ To me！〃 I yelled。 I heard a buzz as when the
angry bees swarm from their nest。 Then my splendid white Arab fell
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dead under me and I was hurled on to the cobble…stones of the yard； where
I can remember no more。
Such was my last and most famous exploit； my dear friends； a story
which rang through Europe and has made the name of Etienne Gerard
famous in history。
Alas！ that all my efforts could only give the Emperor a few weeks
more lib
