louisa of prussia and her times-第101节
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admiral； who maintained his threatening； manly attitude； and； with
his hand on his sword； awaited the emperor's attack。 The generals
and staff…officers； pale with dismay； formed a circle around them。
The emperor suddenly dropped his riding…whip； Admiral Bruix
immediately withdrew his hand from his sword； and； taking off his
hat； he awaited the end of the dreadful scene in profound silence。
〃Rear…Admiral Magou；〃 said the emperor； calling one of the gentlemen
of his suite； 〃cause the movements I had ordered to be carried out
at once： As for you；〃 he continued； slowly turning his eyes toward
the admiral； 〃you will leave Boulogne within twenty…four hours and
retire to Holland。 Begone！〃
He turned around hastily and walked toward his barrack。 Admiral
Bruix looked after him with an aggrieved air； and then turned also
around in order to go。 While walking through the crowd of generals
and staff…officers； he offered his hand to his friends and
acquaintances in order to take leave of them； but few of them；
however； saw it； and shook hands with him； most of them had averted
their eyes from the admiral； whom the sun of imperial favor did not
illuminate any longer； and who consequently was so entirely cast in
the shade； that they were unable to perceive him。
Rear…Admiral Magou had in the mean time carried out the orders of
the emperor。 The ships which before had been at anchor near the
outlet of the harbor； keeping it entirely closed； had moved farther
into the sea； while the other vessels in the harbor were going out。
But Admiral Bruix's prediction began already to be fulfilled； the
sky was covered with black clouds from which lightning was bursting
forth in rapid succession。 The thunder of the heavens drowned the
roar of the sea； which arose like a huge； black monster； hissing and
howling； and fell back again from its height； covered with foam； and
opened abysses into which the ships seemed to sink in order to be
hurled up again by the next wave。 The storm； with its dismal yells；
attacked the masts and broke them as though they were straws； and
lashed the ships； which had already left the harbor； out into the
sea； to certain ruin； to certain death。
The emperor had left his barrack and hurried down to the beach with
rapid steps。 With folded arms and lowered head； gloomy and musing；
he walked up and down in the storm。 He was suddenly aroused from his
meditations by loud screams； by exclamations of terror and dismay。
Twenty gunboats； which the rear…admiral had already caused to be
manned with sailors and soldiers； had been driven ashore by the
storm； and the waves which swept over them with thundering noise
menaced the crews with certain death。 Their cries for help； their
shrieks and supplications were distinctly heard and reechoed by the
wails and lamentations of the masses that had hastened to the beach
in order to witness the storm and the calamities of the shipwreck。
The emperor looked at his generals and staff…officers who surrounded
him； dumbfounded with horror； he saw that no one had the courage or
deemed it feasible to assist the poor drowning men。 All at once the
gloomy air vanished from his face； it became radiant with
enthusiasm； the emperor was transformed once more into a hero；
daring every thing； and shrinking back from no danger。
He immediately entered one of the life…boats and pushing back the
arms of those who wished to detain him； he exclaimed in an almost
jubilant voice： 〃Let me go； let me go！ We must assist those unhappy
men！〃
But his frail bark was speedily filled with water； the waves swept
over it with a wild roar； and covered the whole form of the emperor
with foaming； hissing spray。 He still kept himself erect by dint of
almost superhuman efforts； but now another even more terrible wave
approached and swept； thundering and with so much violence over the
bark； that the emperor； reeling and losing his equilibrium； was
about falling overboard； when his generals dragged him from the boat
and took him ashore。 He followed them unhesitatingly； stunned as he
was by the wave； and as he stepped ashore； a flash burst forth from
the cloud； a majestic thunder…clap followed； the howling storm tore
the hat from the emperor's head and carried it； as if on invisible
wings； high into the air and then far out into the sea where the
waves seemed to receive it with roars of exultation； driving it down
to their foaming depth。
But the courageous example given by the emperor had exerted an
electric effect on the masses which heretofore had apparently been
stupefied with horror。 Every one now felt and recognized it to be
his sacred duty to make efforts for the rescue of the unfortunate
men who were still struggling with the waves and shouting for help；
officers； soldiers； sailors； and citizens； all rushed into the life…
boats or plunged into the sea in order to swim up to the drowning
men and save them in time from a watery grave。
But the sea was not willing to surrender many of its victims。 It
wanted； perhaps； to prove its superior divine majesty to the
imperial ruler which had defied it； and punish him for his
presumption。
Only a few were rescued； for the storm did not abate during the
whole day； it lashed up the sea into waves mountain…high； or opened
abysses frightful to behold。 Night finally descended on the angry
waters and spread its black pall over the scene of death and
despair。
In the morning the beach was covered with hundreds of corpses which
the sea had thrown ashore。 An enormous crowd thronged the shore；
every one came to look with fainting heart and loud lamentations
among the mute； pale corpses for a husband； a friend； or a brother；
shrieks and wails filled the air and even penetrated to the
emperor's barracks。
He had not slept during the whole night； he had been pacing his
rooms； restless； with a gloomy air and pale cheeks： now； early in
the morning； he once more hastened down to the beach。 Thousands of
persons； however； had preceded him thither。 When they beheld the
emperor they stepped gloomily aside； they did not receive him； as
heretofore； with loud exultation and joyful acclamations； they
looked at him with a reproachful air； and then turned their eyes in
mute eloquence to the corpses lying in the sand。
The emperor was unable to bear the silence of the crowd and the
sight of these corpses； pale and shuddering； he turned away and
walked back to his barrack slowly and with lowered head。 But he did
not fail to hear the murmurs of the crowd which had only been silent
so long as it had seen his face； and which； now that he had turned
away； gave free vent to its grief and indignation。
The emperor heard painful sighs when he reached his barrack； and
sent immediately for Roustan； in order to give him secret
instructions。 Thanks to these instructions； Roustan's agents
hastened all day through the city of Boulogne and through the camp
for the purpose of distributing money in the name of the emperor
wherever persons were lamenting and weeping； or where gloomy glances
and mourners were to be met with； thus allaying their grief by means
of the shining magic metal which heals all wounds and dries all
tears。
The emperor； however； had still a more effectual charm for allaying
the indignation of the crowd； or at least for stirring up again the
jubilant enthusiasm of his soldiers。
Telegraphic dispatches of the highest importance had reached the
camp； courier after courier had followed them。 The emperor assembled
all his generals in the council…chamber of his barrack； and when
they left it； after a consultation of several hours； the rumor
spread through the camp that the emperor would now at length utter
those longed…for words and lead his army to new struggles； to new
victories。
These joyful tidings spread like wildfire among the troops； every
one hailed them with a radiant face and merry glances。 Every one saw
himself on the eve of fresh honors and spoils； and only asked
whither the victorious course of the emperor would be directed this
timewhether to England； which constantly seemed to menace France
with its forest of masts； or whether to Austria； whose hostile
friendship might have been distrusted。
The emperor had not yet spoken the decisive words to any member of
his suite； but he had sent for the grand…marshal of the palace and
ordered him to hold every thing in readiness for his departure； to
settle all accounts and bills against the emperor； and to beware on
this occasion of not paying too much to any one。
On the day after receiving these orders； the grand…marshal； without
being announced； appeared before the emperor； who was in the
council…chamber of his barrack； engaged in studying attentively the
maps spread out on the large table before him。
Napoleon only looked up for a moment； and then continued to stick
pins into the maps； thus designating the route which his army was to
take。
〃Well； Duroc；〃 he asked； 〃is every thing ready for our departure？
Have all bills been paid？〃
〃Sire； they are all paid except one； and I must dare to disturb your
majesty in relation to this one bill。〃
〃I suppose it is very high and fraudulent？〃 asked the emperor；
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