Evening Star Newspaper, December 15, 1894, Page 16

EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1894—TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. (Copsrighted.) The Duke of Tarentum, or McDonald, as his old comrades preferred to call him, was, as I could perceive, in the vilest of tempers. His grim Scotch face was like one of those grotesque doorknockers which one sees in the Faubourg St. Germain. We heard afterward that the emperor had said im jest that he would have sent him against Wellington in the south, but that he was afraid to trust him within sound of the pipes. Major Charpentier and I could Plainly see that he was smoldering with anger. ‘Brigadier Gerard of the Hussars,” said he, with the air of the corporal with the recruit. I saluted. “Major Charpentier of the Horse Grena- My companion answered to his name. “The emperor has a mission for you.” Without more ado he flung open the door and announced us. I have seen Napoleon tgn times on horse- back to once on foot, and I think that he does wisely to show himrelf to his troops im this fashion, for he cuts a very good figure in the saddle. As we saw him now he was the shortest man out of six by a} good hand's breadth, and yet I am no very | big man myself, though I ride quite heavy enough for a hussar. It is evident, too, that his body is too long for his legs. With his big round head, his curved shoulders and his clean-shaven face, he is more like @ professor at the Sorbonne than the first soldier of France. Every man to his tastes, but ft seems to me that if I could clap a pair of fine light cavalry whiskers like my own onto him it would do him no harm. He hes a firm mouth, howe,er, and his eyes are remarkable. I have seen them once turned upon me in anger, and I had rather ride at a square on a spent horse than face them again. I am not a man that is easily daunted, either. He was standing at the side of the room, away from the window, looking up at a great map of the country, which was hung upon the wall. Berthier stood beside him, trying to look wise, and just as we entered Napoleon snatched his sword impatiently «rom him, and pointed with it on the map. He was taking fast and low, but I heard him say: “The valley of the Meuse,” and twice he repeated, “Berlin.” As we en- tered, his aid-de-camp advanced to us, but the emperor stopped him and beckoned us to his side. . “You have not yet received a cross of honor, Brigadier Gerard?” he asked. I replied that I had not, and was about to add that it was not for want of having de- served it, when he cut me short in his de- cided fashion. “And you, major?” he asked. ‘No, sire.’ “Then you shall both have your oppor- tunity now.” He led us to the great map upon the wall and placed the tip of Berthier’s sword upon Rhetms. “IT will be frank with you, gentlemen, as with two comrades. You have both been with me since Marengo, I believe.” He had a strangely pleasant smile, which used to light up his pale face with a kind of cold A. Conan Doyle. sunshine. “Here at Rheims are our pres- ent headquarters on this, the 14th of March. Very good. Here is Paris, distant by road a good twenty-tive leagues. Biu- cher lies to the north, Schwartzenburg to the south.” He prodded the map with the | sword as he spoke. “Now,” said he, “the further tato the country these people march the more com- pleteiy I shall crush them. They are about to advance upon Paris. Very good. Let them do so. My brother, the King of Spain, will be there with a hundred thousand men. It is to him that I send you. You will hand him this letter, a copy of which I confide to each of you. It Is to teli him that I am coming at once, in two days’ time, with every man and horse and gun, to his relief. I must give them forty-eight hours to re- cover. Then straight to Paris. You under- stand me, gentlemen Ah, if I could tell yoi the glow of pride it gave me to be taken into the great man’s confidence in this way. As he handed our letters to us I clicked my spurs and threw out my chest, smiling and nodding to let | him know that I saw what he would be| after. He smiled also and rested his hand for a moment upon the cape of my dolman. I would have given half my arrears of pay | if my mother could have seen me at that instant. = “I will show you your route,” said he, turning back to the map. “Your orders are to ride together as far as Bazoches. You will then separate, the one making for Paris by Oulchy and Neuilly, and the other to the north by Braine, Soissons and Sen- lig. Have you anything to say, Brigadier Gerard?” I am a rough soldier, but I have words and ideas. I had begun to speak about glory and the peril of France when he cut me short “And you, Major Charpentier?” “If we find our route unsafe are Uberty to choose another?" said he. “Soldiers do not choose. They obey.” He inclined his head to show that we were dis- missed and turned around to Berthier. I do not know what he said, but I heard them both laughing. Well. =s you may think, we lost little time in gettiug upon our way. In half an hour we were riding down the high street cf Rheims, and it struck 12 o'clock as we Passed the cathedral. I had my little gray mare, Violette, the one which Sebastiani had wished to buy after Dresden. It is the fastest horse in the six brigades of light cavalry and was only beaten by the Duke of Rovigo’s racer from England. As to Charpentier, he had the kind of hors which a horse grenadicr or a cuirassic would be likelv *o ride—a back like a bed- stead, you understand, and legs like the posts. He is a hulking fellow himself, so that they look a singular pair. And yet, in his insane conceit he ogled the as they waved their handkerchiefs to me from the windows and he twiried his ugly mustache up into his eyes, just as if it were to him that their attention was addressed. When we came out of the town we pa: ea through the French camp and the across the battlefield of yesterday, which was still covered both by our own poor fellows and by the Prussians. But of the two the camp was the sadder sight. Our army was thawing away. The guards were all right, though the young guard was full conscripts. The artillery and the heavy cavalry were algo good, if there were more of them, but the infantry privates, with their undor officers, looked like school boys with their masters. And we had no re- serves. When one considered that there yrere 80,000 Prussians to the north, and 180,000 Russians and Austrians to the south it might make even the bravest man grave. For my own part, I confess that I shed a ¢ until the thought came that the em- ror was still with us, and that on that fery morning he had placed his hand upon we at | ordered me to carry -my | and down, curving among fir woods, I kept | pushing on swiftly where the path was my dolman and had promised me a medal of honor. This set me singing, and I spur- red Violette on until Charpentier had to beg m > have mercy on his great snort- ing, pauwttng camel. The road was beaten into paste and rutted two feet deep by the artillery, so that he was right in saying that it was not the place for a gallop. I have never been very friendly with this Charpentier, and now for twenty miles of the way I could not draw a word from bim. He rode with his brows puckered and bis chin upon his treast like a man who is heavy with thought. More than once I asked him what was on his mind, thinking that perhaps with my quicker | He Was Standing at the Side Room. intelligence I might set the straight. His answer always was that it was his mission of which he was always thinking, which surprised me, because, al- though I had never thought much of his intelligence, still it seemed to me to be impossible that any one could be puzzled by so simple and soldierly a task. ‘Well, we came at last to Bazoches,where he was to take the southern road and I the northern. He half turned in his saddle before he left me and he looked at me with a singular expression cf inquiry on his face. “What do you make of it, brigadier asked. “Of what?” “Of our mission.” Surely, it is plain enough.” You think so? Why should the emperor tell us his plans “Because he recognized our intelligence.” My companion laughed in a manner which I found annoying. ‘May I ask what you Intend to do if you find these villages Il of Prussians?” he asked. shall obey my orders.” of the matter he | ‘ery possibly. He laughed again and so offensively that I clapped my hand to my sword. But be- fore I could tell him what I thought of his stupidity and rudeness he had wheeled his horse and was lumbering away down the other road. I saw his big fur cap vanish over the brow of a hill and then I rode upon my way, wondering at his conduct. From time to time I put my hand to the breast of my tunic and felt the paper crackle beneath my fingers. Ah, my pre- cious paper, which should be turned into the little silver medal for which I had | yearned so long. All the way from Braine to Sermoise I was thinking of what my mother would say when she saw It. I stopped to give Violette a meal at a wayside auberge on the side of a hill not far from Soissons—a place surrounded by old oaks, and with so many crows, that one could searceiy hear one’s own voice. lt was from the innkeeper that I learned that Marmont had falien back two days before and that the Prussians were over the Aisne. An hour later in the fading light I saw two of their vedettes upon a hill to the right, and then, as darkness gathered, the heavens to the north were all glimmer- ing from the lights of a bivouac. When I heard that Blucher had been there for two Gays I was much surprised that the emperor should not have known that the country throug! which he had precious letter was already occupied by the enemy. Still, I thought of the tone of his voice when he said to Charpentier that a soldier must not choose, but must obey. I should follow the route he had laid down to me as long as Violette could move a hoof or I a finger upon her bridle. All the way from Ser- moise to Soissons, where the road dips up my pistol ready and my sword belt braced, straight and then coming slowly around the corners, in the way we learned in Spain. ‘When I came to the farm house which lies to the right of the road just after you cross the wooden bridge over the Crise, near where the great statue of the Virgin stands, a woman cried to me from the field, saying the Prussians were in Soissons. A small party of their lancers, she said, had come on that very afternoon and a whole division was expected before midnight. I did not wait to hear the end of her tale, but clapped spurs into Violette, and five minutes later was galloping her into the town. Three Uhlans were at the mouth of the main street, their horses tethered, and they gossiping together, each with a pipe as long as my saber. I saw them well at the light of an open door, but of me they eculd have seen only the flash of Violette’s gray side and the black flutter of my cloak. A moment later I flew through a stream of them rushing from an open gateway. Violette’s shoulder sent one of them reeling and I stabbed at another, but missed him. Pang, pang. went two carbines, but I had flown round the curve of the street and never so much as heard the hiss of the balls. Ah, we were great, both Violette and I. She lay dewn to it, like a coursed hare, the fire flying trom her hoofs. I stood in my stirrups and brandished my sword. Some one sprang for my bridle. I sliced him through the arm, and I heard him hewling behind me. Two horsemen closed upon me. I cut one dewn and outpaced the other. A minute later I was clear of the town, flying dowa a bread, white road with the black poplars on either side. For a time I heard the rattle of hoofs behind me, but they died and died entil I could not tell them from the throbbing of my own heart. Soon I pulled up and listened, but all was silent. They had given up the chase. Well, the first thing that I did was to dis- mount and to lead my iaare into a simall wool through which @ stream ran. There I watered her and rubbed her down, giving her two pieces of sugar soaked in cognac from my flask. She was spent from the sharp chase, but it was wonderful to see how she came round with a_half-hour's rest. When my thighs closed upon her again I could tell by the spring and swing of her that it would not be her fault if I id not win my way safe to Paris. } must have been well within the enemy’s lis now, for I heard a number of them shouting one of their rough drinking songs out of a house by the roadside, and I went round by the fields to avoid it. At another time two men came out into the moonlight (for by this time it was a cloudless night) and shouted something in German, but I | to be spoken of with Violette. galloped on without heeding them and they were afraid to fire, for their own hussars are dressed exactly as I was. It is best to take no notice at these times and then they put you down as a deaf man. It vas a lovely moon and every tree threw a black bar acrcss the road. I could see the country side just as if it were day- time, and very peaceful it looked, save that there was a great fire raging somewhere in the north. In the silence of the nighttime and with the knowledge that danger was in front and behind me, the sight of that great distant fire was very striking and awesome. But I was not easily clouded, for I have seen too many singular things, so I hum- med a tune between my teeth, and thought of Uttle Lisette, whom I might see in Paris. My mind was full upon her, when, trotting round a corner, I came straight upon half a dozen German dragoons who were sitting round a brushwood fire by the roadside. { am an excellent soldier. I do not say this because 1 am prejudiced in my own favor, but because | really am so. I can weigh every chance in a moment, and de- cide with as much certainty as though I had brooded for a week. Now I saw like a flash that, come what might, I should be chased, and on a horse which had already done a long twelve leagues. But it was better to be chased onwards than chased back. On this mocnlit night, with fresh horses behind me, I must take my risk in either case, but if 1 were to shake them off, 1 preferred that it should be near Senlis than near Soissons. All this flashed on me as if by instinct, you understand. My eyes had hardly rested upon the bearded faces under the brass helmets be- fore my rowels were up to the bosses in Violette’s side, and she was off with a rat- tle like a pas-de-charge. Qh, the shouting and resting and stamping from behind us! ‘Three of them fired and three swung onto their horses. A bullet rapped on the crup- per of the saddle with a noise like a stick on a door. Violette sprang madly forward, and 1 thought she had been wounded, but it was only a graze above the near fore fetlock. Ah, the dear little mare, how I loved her when I felt her settle down onto that long easy gallop of hers, her hoofs going like a Spanish girl's castanets. I could not hold myself. I turned on my saddle and shouted and raved. “Vive VEmpereur!” 1 screamed, and laughed at the gust of oaths that came back to me. But it was not over yet. If she had been fresh she might have gained a mile in five. Now she could only hold her own, with a very little over. ‘There was one of them, a young boy of an olficer, who was better mounted than the others. He drew ahead with every stride. Two hundred yards be- hind him’ were two troopers, but I saw every time that 1 glanced around that the distance between them was_ increasing. | ‘fhe other three who had waited to shoot | were a long way in the rear. The officer's mount was a bay, a fine horse, though not Yet it was a powertul brute, and it seemed to me in a few miles its freshness might tell. I waited until the lad was a long way in front of his comrades, and then I eased my mare down a iittle—a very, very little, so that he might think that he really catching me. When he came within pistol shot of me 1 drew and cocked my own pistol, and laid my chin upon my shoulder to see what he would do. He did not offer to fire, and 1 soon discerned the cause. ‘The silly boy had taken his pistols from his holsters when he had camped for the night. He wagged his sword at me now and oared some of his gibberish, He did not seem to understand that he was at my mercy. 1 eased Violette down until there was hot the length of a long lance between the gray tail and the bay muzzle. “Itendez-vous!”” he yelled. “] must compliment monsieur upon his French,” said I, resting the barrel of my pistol upon my le arm, which I have always found best when shooting from the saddie. I aimed at his face, and could see, even in the moonlight, how white he gre when he understood that it was all up wit him. But even as my finger pressed the trigger I thought of his mother, and I put my ball through his horse's shoulder. I fear he hurt himself in the fall, for it was a fearful crash, but I had my letter to (cink of, so I stretched the mare into a gallop ence more. But they were not so easily shaken off, these brigands. The two troopers thought no more of their young officer than if he had been a recruit thrown in the riding school. They left him to the others and thundered on after me. I had pulled up on the brow of a hill, thinking that I had heard the last of them, but, my faith, I soon saw that there was no time for loi- tering, so away we went, the mare tossing her head and I my busby, to show what we thought of two dragoons who tried to catch a hussar. But at this moment, even while I laughed at the thought, my heart stood still within me, for there at the end of the long, white road, was a black patch of cay- alry waiting to receive me. To a young sol- dier it might have seemed the shadow of the trees, but to me it was a troop of hus- sars, and turn where I would death seemed to be waiting for me. Well, I had the dragoons behind me and the hussars in front. Never since Moscow have I seemed to be in such peril. But for the honor of the brigade I would rather be | cut down by a light cavatlryman than by a heavy. I never drew bridle, theretore, or hesitated for an instant, but I let Violette have her head. I remember that I tried to pray as i rode, but I am a little out of prac tice at such things, and the only words 1 | could remember were the prayer for fine weather which we used at the school on | the evening before holidays. Even this seemed better than nothing, and I was pat- tering it out, when suddenly I heard French voices in front of me. Ah, mon Dieu, but the joy went through my heart like a musket ball. They were ours—our own dear little rascals from the corps of Marmont. Round whisked my two dra- goons and galloped for their liv with the moon gleaming on their brass helmets, while I trotted up to my friends In no un- due haste, for I would have them under- stand that though a hussar fly it is not in his nature to fly very fast. Yet, I fear that Violette’s heaving flanks and foam spattered muzzle gave the lie to my care- less bearing. Who should be at the head of the troop but old Bouvet, whom I saved at Leipsic. When he saw me his little pink eyes filled with tears, and indeed I could not but shed a few myself at the sight of his joy. I told him of my mission, but he laughed when I said I must go past through Senlis. “The enemy is there,” he said. “You cannot go.” “I prefer to go where the enemy ts,” I answered. “I would ride through Beriin if I had the emperor's order.” “But why not go straight to Paris with your dispatch? Why should you choose to pass through the one place where vou are almost sure to be taken and killed?” “A soldier does not choose, he obeys said I, just as I had heard Napoleon say it. “Rendez-vous!” He Yelled. Old Beuvet laughed in his wheezy way until I had to give my mustache a twirl and lock him up and down in a manner h brought him to reason. Well,” said he, “you had best come along with us, for we are all bound for Senlis. Our orders are to reconnoiter the place. A squadron of Poniatowski’s Polish lancers are in front of us. If you must ride through it, it is possible that we may be able to go with you.” So away we went, jingling and clanking threvgh the quiet night until we came up with the Poles—fine old soldiers, all of them, though a trifle heavy for their horses. It was a treat to see them, for thay could not have carried themselves better if they had belonged to my own brigsde. We rode tegether, until in the early morning we saw the lights of Senlis. Ar nt was coming along with a cart, and from him we learned how things were going there. His information was certain, for his brether was the mayor's coachman, and he had spoken with him late the night before. There was a single squadron of Cossacks— or a polk, as they call it in their frightful language—quartered upon the mayor's house, whi stands at the corner of the market place, and is the largest building in the town. A whole division of Prussian infantry was encamped in tke woods to the north, but only the Cossacks were in Senlis. Ah! what a chance to avenge ourselves upon these barbarians, whose cruelty to our peer country folk was the talk at every camp fire. We were into the town like a torrent, hacked down the vedettes, rode over the guard, and were smashing in the doors of the mayor's house before they understood that there was a Frenchman within twenty miles of them, We saw hor- rid heads at the windows, heads bearded to the temples, with tangled hair and sheep- skin caps, and silly, gaping mouths. “Hourra! hourre!"’ they shrieked, and fired with their carbines, but our~fellows were into the house and at their throats before they had wiped the sleep outyof their eyes. . It was dreadful to see how the Poles flung themselves upon them, like starving wolves upon a herd of fat bucks—for, as you know, the Poles have a blood feud against the Cossacks. The most were kill- ed in the upper rooms, whither they fled for shelter, and the blood was pourin down into the hall like rain upon a roof. They are terrible soldiers, these Poles, though I think they are a trifle heavy for their horses. Man for magn, they are as big as Kellermann’s cyirassiers. Their equipment, however, is, of course, much lighter, since they aro without.the cuirass, backplate ard helmet. ic Well, it was at this point that I made an error--a very serious error, it must be ad- mitted. Up to this moment I had carrted out my mission in a manner which only my modesty prevents me from describiftr as remarkable. But now I did that which an official would condemn and a soldier ex- cuse. There is no doubt that the mare was spent, but still it is true that I might have galloped on through Senlis and reached the country, where I should have had no enemy between me and Paris. But what hussar can ride past a fight and never draw rein? It is to ask too much of him. Besides I thought that if Violette had an hour of rest I might be three hours the better at the other end. Then on the top of it came those heads at the windows with their sheepskin hats and their barbarous cries. I sprang from my saddle, threw Violette’s bridle over a nail post and ran into the house with the rest. It is true that I was too late to be of service, and that I was nearly wounded by a lance thrust from one of these dying savages. Still it is a pity to miss even the smailest affair, for one never knows what opportunity for advancement may present itself. I have seen more sol- dlerly work in outpost skirmishes and little gallop-and-hack affairs of the kind than in any of the emperor's big battles. When the house was cleared I took a bucket of water out for Violette, and our peasant guide showed me where the good mayor kept his fodder. My faith, but the little sweetheart was ready for it. Then I sponged down her legs, and, leaving her still tethered, I went back into the house to find a mouthful for myself, so that I should not need to halt again until 1 was in Paris. And now I come to the part of my story which may seem singular to you, although I could tell you at least ten things every bit as queer which have happened to me in my lifetime. You can understand that to a man who spends his life in scouting and vedette duties on the bloody ground which lies between two great armies there are many chances of strange experiences. I'll tell you, however, exactly what oc- curred. Old Bouvet was waiting in the passage when I entered, and he asked me whether we might not crack a boitle of wine t gether. “My faith, we must not be long, said he. “There are ten the nd of Theil- man’s Prussians in the woods up yonder.” “Where is the wine?” I asked, “Ah! you may trust two hussars to find where the wine is, id be, and, taking a candle in his hand, he led the way down the stone stairs which led to the kitchen, When we got there we found another door which opened onto a winding stairs, with the celiar at the bottom. The Cos- sacks had been there before us, as was easily seen by the broken bottles littered all over it. However, the mayor was a bon vivant, and I do not wish to have a better set of bins to pick from. Chambertin, Graves, Alicant, white wine and red, spark- ling and stiil, they lay in. pyramids, peep- ing coyly out of the sawdust. Old Bouvet came down with a crash upon my back, the candle flying out of my hands, so that I found myself in darkness once more. I picked myself up and stared through the lack archway into the gloom beyond. There was a slight ray of light coming from some slit or grating. The dawn had broken outside and I could dimly see the long, curving sides of several huge casks, which made me think that perhaps this was where the mayor kept his reserves of wine, while they were maturing. At any rate, it seemed to be a safer hiding place than the outer cellar, so, gathering up my candle, I was just closing the door behind me when I suddenly saw something which filled me with amazement, and even, I confess, with the smallest little touch of ear. . I have said that at the further end of the cellar there was a dim, gray fan of light, striking downward from somewhere near the roof. Well, as I peered through the darkness, 1 suddenly saw a great, tall man skip into this belt of daylight, and then out again into the blackness at the further end. My word, I gave Such a start that my busby nearly broke its chin strap. It was but a glance, but none the less I had time to see that the fellow had a hairy Cossack cap on his head, and that he was a great, long-legged. broad-shouldered brigand, with a saber at his waist. My faith, even Eti- enne Gerard was a little staggered at being left alone with such a creature in the dark. But only for a moment. “Courage,” I thought. “Am I not a hussar, a brigadier, too, at the age of thirty-one, and the chos- en messenger of the emperor?” After all, this skulker had more cause to be afraid of me than I of him. And then suddenly understood that he was afraid—horribly afraid. I could read it from his quicl steps and his bent shoulders, as he ran among the barrels, like a rat making for its hole. And, of course, it must have been he who had held the door against me, and not some packing case or wine cask, as I had imagined. He was the pursued then, and I the pursuer, Aha, I felt my whiskers bristle as I advanced upon him through the darkness! He would find that he had no chicken to deal with, this robber from the north. For the moment I was magnifi- cent. At first I had feared to light my candle, lest I should make a mark of myself, but now, after cracking my shin over a box and catching my spurs in some canvas, I thought the bolder course the wiser. I lit it, therefore, and then advanced with long strides, my sword in hand. “Come out, you rascal,” I erled. “Nothing can save you. You will at last meet with your deserts.” I held my candle high, and presently I caught a glimpse of the man’s head, star- ing at me over a barrel. He had a gold chevron on his black cap, and the expres- sion of his face told me in an instant that he was an officer and a man of refinement. “Monsieur,” he cried, in excellent French, “I surrender myself upon the promise of quarter, But if I do not have your promise I will then sell my life as dearly as I can. “Sir,” said I, “a Frenchman knows how to treat an unfortunate enemy. Your life is s With that he handed the sword over the top of the barrel, and I bowed, with the candle upon my heart. “Whom have I the honor of capturing?” I asked. “I am the Count Boutkine of the Emper- or's own Don Cossacks,” said he. “I came out with my troop to reconnotter Senlis, and, as we found no sign of your people, we determined to spend the night here. “And would it be an indiscretion,” I ask- I were to inquire how you came into the back cellar?” “Nothing more simple,” said he. “It was our intention to start at early dawn. Feel ing chilled after dreesing, I thought th a cup of wine would do me no harm, so I came down to see what I could find. As I was rummaging about the house was sud- denly carried by assault so rapidly that by the time I had climbed the stairs it was all HE RODE LIKE A MAN WHO WAS HEAVY WITH THOUGHT. stood with his candle, looking here and peeping there, purring in his throat like a cat hefore a milkpail. He had pitched upon a Burgundy at last, and had his hand out- stretched to the bottle, when there came a roar of musketry from above us, a rush of feet and such yelping and a screaming as I have never listened to. The Prussians were upon us. Bouvet is a brave man—I will say that for him. He flashed out his sword, and away he clattered up the stone steps, his spurs clinking as he ran. I followed him, but just as we came out Into the kitchen passage a tremendous shout told us that the house had been recaptured. “It is all over,” I cried, grasping at Bou- vet's sleeve. “There is one more to die,” he shouted, and away he went like a madman up the second stair. In effect I should have gone to my death also had I been in his place, for he had done very wrong in not throw- ing out his scouts to warn him if the Ger- mans advanced upon him. For an instant I was about to rush up with him, and then I bethought myself that, after all, I had my own mission to think of, and that if I were taken the important letter of the em- peror would be sacrificed. I let Bouvet die alone, therefore, and I went down into the cellar again, closing the door behind me. Well, it was not a very resy prospect down there, either. Bouvet had dropped the candle when the alarm came, and I, pawing about in the darkness, could find nothing but broken bottles. At last 1 came upon the candle, which had rolled under the curve of a cask, but try as I would with my tinder box I'could not light it. The reason was that the Wick had been wet in a puddle of wine, so, suSpecting that this might be the case F cut=the end off with my sword. Then I found that it light- ed easily enough. But what to do I could not imagine. The scoundrels upstairs were shouting themselves hoarse, several hun- dred of them from the sound, and it was clear that some of them would soon want to moisten their throats\ There would be an end of a dashing soldier and of the mis- sion and of the medal. I thought of my mother and I thought of, the-emperor. It made me weep to think tat the one would lose so excellent a son and the other the best light cavalry officer he ever had since La Salle’s time. But presently I dashed the tears from my eyes. “Courage!” I cried, striking myself upon the chest. “Courage, my brave boy! Is it possible that one who has come safely from Moscow without so much as a frost bite will die in a French wine cellar?” At the thought T was up om my feet and clutching at the letter in my tunic, for the crackle of it gave me cour- age. My first plan was to set fire to the house, in the hope of escaping in the confusion. My second to get into an empty wine cask. I was looking round to see if I could find one, when suddenly in the corner I espied a little, low door, painted of the same gray color as the wail, so that it was only a man with quick sight who would have noticed it. I pushed against it and at first I imag- ined that it was locked. Presently, how- ever, it gave a little, and then I ‘under- stood that it was held by the pressure of something upon the other side. I put my feet against a hogshead of wine and gave such a push that the door flew open and I over. It only remained for me to save my- self, so I came down here and hid myself in the back cellar, where you have found me.” I thought of how old Bouvet had be- haved under the same conditions, and the tears sprang to my eyes as I contemplated the glory of France. Then I had to con- sider what I should do next. It was clear that this Russian count, betng in the back cellar, while we were in the front one, had not heard the sounds which would ‘have told him that the house was-once again in the hands of his own allies. If he should once understand this, the tables would be turned, and I should be his prisoner in- stead of he being mine. What was I to do? I was at my wits’ end, when suddenly there came to me an idea so brilliant that I could not but be amazed at my own in- vention. “Count Boutkine,” said I, “I find myself in a most dificult position.” ne ne aaked. “Because L have promised you your life.”” His jaw dropped a little. “You would not withdraw your promise?” he replied. “If the worst comes to the worst, I can die in your defense,” said I, “but the diffi- culties are great.’ What is it, then?” he asked. will be frank with you,” said I. “You must know that our fellows, especially the Poles, are so incensed against the Cossacks that the mere fact of the uniform drives them mad! They precipitate themselves instantly upon the wearer, and tear him limb from limb. Even their officers can- not restrain them. ‘The Russian grew pale at my words and the way in which I said them. “But this is horrible!” said he. “Horrible!” said I. “If we were to go up together at this moment I cannot promise how far I can protect you.” “I am in your hands,” he cried; “what would you suggest that we should do? Would it not be best that I should remain here?” “That worst of all.” “and why?” Because our fellows will ransack the house presently, and then you would be cut to pieces. No, no, I must go up and break it to them. But even then, when once they see that accursed uniform, I do not know what may happen.” “Should I then take the uniform off?” “Excellent! Excellent!” I cried, “Hold! We have it! You will take your uniform off and put on mine. That will make you sacred to every French soldier.” “It is not the French that I fear so much as the Poles.” “But my uniform will be a safeguard against either.” “How can I thank you?” he cried. “But you—what are you to wear?” “I will wear yours.” “And perhaps fall a victim to your gen- erosity.”” “It is my duty to take the risk,” I an- swered. “But I have no fears. I will ascend in your uniform. A hundred swords will be turned upon me. ‘Hold!’ I will shout. ‘I am Brigadier Gerard.’ Then they will see my face. They will know me, and I will tell them about you. Under the shield of these clothes you will be sacred.” His fingers trembled with eagerness as he tore off his tunic. His boots and breeches were much like my own, so there was no need to change them, but I gave him my hussar jacket, my ‘dolmaa, my busby and my sword belt and my saber sash, while I took in exchange his high sheepskin hat, with the gold chevron, his fur-trimmed coat and his crooked sword. Be it well understood that in changing the tunics I did not forget to change my thrice precious letter also from my old one to my new. “With your leave,” sald I, “I shall now bind you to a barrel.”” He made a great fuss over this, but I have learned in my soldiering never to throw away chances, and how could I tell that he might not, when my back was turned, see how the matter really stood and break in upon my plans? He was leaning against a barrel at the time, so I ran six times around it with a rope and then tied it with a big knot behind. If he wished to come upstairs he would at least have to carry a thousand Mters of good French wine for a knapsack. I then shut the door of the back cellar behind me, so that he might not hear what was going forward, and, tossing the candie away, I ascended the kitchen statr. ‘There were only about twenty steps, and yet while [ came up them I seemed to have time to think of everything that I had ever done and everything that I had I Ran Six Times Around It With a Rope. ever hoped to do. It was the same feeling that I had at Eylau when I lay with my broken leg and saw the horse artillery gailoping down upon me. Of course, I knew that it I were taken I should be shot instantly as being disguised within the enemy's lines, Still, it was a glorious death, in the di- rect service of the emperor, and I reflected that there could not be less than five lines, and perhaps seven, in the Moniteur about me. Palaret had eight lines, and I am sure that he had not sc fine & career. When I made my way out into the hall, with all the nonchalance in.my face and manner thet I could assume, the very first thing I saw was Bouvet's dead body, with his knees drawn up and a broken sword in his hand. I could see by the black smudge that he had bee» sh close quarters. I should have wished to salute as I went by, for he wes a gallant man, but I feared lest I should be seen, and so I passed on. The front of the hall s full of Prus- sian infantry, who were knocking loop- holes in the wall, as though they expected that there might be yet another attack. Their officer, a littls rat of a man, was running about, giving directions. “They were all too busy to take much notice of me, but another officer, who was standing by the door, with a long pipe in his mouth, strode across and clapped me on the shoul- der, pointing to the dead bodies of our poor hussars, and saying something that was meant for a jest, for his big beard opened and showed every fang in his head. i laughed heartily also, and said the only Russian words that I know. I learned them from bttle Sophy at Wilna, and they meant; “If the night is fine we shall meet under the oak tree, and if it rains we shall meet in the »yre.” It was all the same to this German, however, and I have no doubt that he gave me credit for saying something very witty, indeed, for he roared laughing and slapped me on my shoulder agaia. I nodded to him and marched out of the hall door as coolly as if I were the commandant of the garrison. There were @ hundred horses tethered about outside, most of them belonging to the Poles and hussars. Good little Violette was waiting with che others, and she whinnied when she saw me coming to- ward her. But I would not mount her. No; I was too cunning for that. On the contrary, I chose the most shaggy little Cossack horse that I could see, and sprang upon it with as wuch assurance as though it had belonged to my father before me. It had a great bag of plunder slung over its neck, and this I laid upon Violette’s back and led her along beside me. Never have you seen such'a picture of the Cossack re- turning from the foray. It was superb. Well, the town was full of Prussians by this time. They lined the sidewalks and pointed me out to each other, saying, as I could judge by their gestures: “There goes one of those devils of Cossacks. They are the boys for foraging and plunder.” One of the two officers spo'e to me with an air of authority, but I shook my head and smiled and said: “If the night Is fine we shall meet under the oak tree, but if it rains we shall meet in the byre.” At which they shrugged their shoulders and gave the matter up. In this way I worked along un- til I was beyond the northern outskirt of the town. I could see in the roadway two lancer vedettes, with their black and white pennons, and I knew that when I was once past these I should be a free man once more. I made my pony trot, therefore, Vio- lette rubbing her nose against my knee all the time, and looking up at me to ask how she had deserved that this doormat of a creature should be preferred to her. I was not more than a hundred yards from the Ublans, when suddenly, you can imagine my feelings when I saw a real Cossack coming galloping along the roadway to- ward me. Ah, my friend, you who read this, if you have any heart, you will feel for a man like me, who had gone through so many dan- gers and trials only at this very last mo- ment to be confronted with one which ap- peared to put an end to everything. I will confess that for a moment I lost heart and was inclined to throw myself down in my despair, and to ery out that I had been be- trayed. | But no, I was not beaten even now. I opened two buttons of my tunic, so that I might get easily at the emperor’s message, for it was my fixed determination, when all hope was gone, to swallow the letter end then die sword in hand. Then I felt that my little crooked sword was loose in its sheath and I trotted on to where the ve- dettes were waiting. They seemed inclined to stop me, but I pointed to the other Cos- sack, who was still a couple of hundred yards off, and they, understanding that I merely wished to meet him, let me pass Pwith a salute. I dug my spurs into my pony, then, for if I weré only far enough from the lancers I thought I might manage the Cossack without much difficulty. He was an officer, a large, bearded man, with a gold chevron in his cap just the same as mine. As I ad- vanced he unconsciously aided me by pull- I Led Violette Along Beside Me, ing up his horse, so that I had a fine start of the vedettes. On I came for him, and I could see wonder turning to suspicion in his brown eyes as he looked at me and my pony equipment. I do not know what it was that was wrong, but he saw something which was not as it should be. He shout- ed out a question, and then, when I gave tio answer, he pulled out his sword. I was glad in my heart to see him do #9, for I had always rather fight than cut down an unsuspecting enemy. Now I made at him full tilt, and, parry- ing his cut, I got my point in just under the fourth button of his tunic.” Down be went, and the weight of him nearly took me off my horse before I could disengage. I never glanced at him to see if he were living or dead, for I sprang off my pony and on to Violette, with a shake of my bridle and a kiss of my hand to the two Uhlans behind me. They galloped after me, shouting, but Violette had had her rest and was just as fresh as when she started. I took the first side road to the west, and the first to the south, whieh would take me away from the enemy's country. On we went, and on, every ‘stride taking me fur- ther from my foes and nearer to my friends. At last I reached the end of a tong could see no signs of pursuers. I under- stood that my troubles were at last over. And it gave me a glow of happiness as 1 rode to think that I had done to the letter what the emperor had ordered. What would he say when he saw me? What could he say which would do justice to the incred- ible way in which I had risen above every danger? He had ordered me to go through Sermoise, Soissons and Senilis, little dream- ing that they were all three occupied by the enemy. And yet I had done it. I had borne his letter in safety through each of these towns. Hussars, dragoons, lancers, Cossacks and infantry, I had run the gauntlet of all of them and had come out unharmed. When I had got as far as Dammartin I caught a first glimpse of our own outposts, They were a troop of dragoons in a field, and, of course, I could see from the horse- hair crests that they were French. I gal- loped toward them in order to ask them if all was safe between there and Paris, and as I rode I felt such a pride at having won my way back to my friends again that J could not refrain from waving my sword in the air. At this a young officer galloped out from among the dragoons, also bran- dishing his sword, and it warmed my heart to think that he should come riding with such ardor and enthusiasm to greet me. I made Violette caracole, and as we came to- gether 1 brandished my sword more gal- lantly than ever—but you can imagine my feelings when he suddenly made a cut at me which would certainly have taken my head off if I had not fallen forward with my nose in Violette’s mane. My faith! it whistled just over my cap like an east wind. Of course, it came from this ac- cursed uniform, which, in my excitement, I had forgotten all about, and this young dragoon had imagined that I was some Russian champion who was challenging the French cavalry. My word! he was a fright- ened man when he understood how near he had been to killing the celebrated Briga- dier Gerard. Well, the road was clear, and about 3 o'clock in the afternoon I was at St. Denis, though it took me a long two hours to get from there to Paris, for the road was black with commissariat wagons and guns of the artillery reserve, which were yoing north (o Marmont and Mortier. You can- not conceive the exciteemnt which my ap- pearance in such a costume made in Paris, and when I came to the Rue de Rivoli I should think I had a quarter of a mile of folk riding or running behind me. Word had got about from the dragoons (two of them had come with me), and everybody knew about my adventures and how I had come by my uniform. It was a triumph— men shouting and women waving their handkerchiefs and blowing kisses from the windows. Although I am a man singularly free from conceit, still I must confess that on this occasion I could not restrain myself from showing that this reception ¢ratified me. The Russian coat had hung very loose upon me, but now I threw out my chest unl it was as tight as a sausage skin. And my little sweeheart of a mare tossed her mane and pawed with her front hoofs, frisking her tail about, as though she said: “We've done it together this time. It is to us that commissions should be intrusted.” When I kissed her between the nostrils when I dismounted at the gate of the Tuil- eries there was as much shouting as if a bulletin had been read from the grand army. I was hardly in costume to visit a king, but, after all, if one has a soldierly figure, one can do without all that. I was shown up straight away to Joseph, whom I had often seen in Spain. He seemed as stout, as quiet and as amiable as ever. Talley- rand was in the room with him, or I sup- pose I should call him Duke of Benevento, but I confess that I like old names best. He read my letter when Joseph Bonaparte handed it to him, and then he looked at me with the strangest expression in those fun- ny Kittie twinkling eyes of his. — you the only messenger?” he ask- ed. “There was one other, sir,” said L “Major Charpentier of the horse grena- diers.” “He has not yet arrived,” said the King of Spain. “If you had seen the legs of his horse, sire, you would not wonder at it,” I re- marked. “There may be other reasons,” said Tal- leyrand, and he gave that singular smile of his. Well, they paid me a compliment or two, though they might have said a good deal more and yet have said too little. I bowed myself out, and very glad I was to get away, for I hate a court as much as I love a camp. Away I went to my old friend, Chaubert, in the Rue Miromesnil, and there I got the hussar uniform, which fitted me very well. He and Lizette and I supped to- gether in his rooms, and all my dangers were forgotten. In the morning I found Violette ready for another twenty-league stretch. It was my intention to return in- stantly to the emperor’s headquarters, for I was, as you may imagine, impatient to hear his words of praise and to receive my reward. I need not say that I rode back by a safe route, for I had seen quite enough of uh- lans and Cossacks. I passed through Meaux and Chateau Thierry, and so in the evening I arrived at Rheims, where Napo- leon was still lying. The bodies of our fel- lows and of St. Prest’s Russians had all been buried, and I could see changes in the camp also. The soldiers looked better cared for, some of the cavalry had received remounts, and everything was in excellent order. It is wonderful what a good gen- eral can effect in a couple of days. When I came to the headquarters I was shown straight into the ‘emperor's room. He was drinking coffee at a writing table with a big plan drawn out on paper tu front of him. Berthier and McDonald were leaning one over each shoulder, and he was talking so quickly that I don’t believe either of them could catch a half of what he was saying. But when his eyes fell upon me he dropped his pen onto the chart and he sprang up with a look in his pale face which struck me cold. “What the devil are you doing here?” he shouted. When he was angry he had a e like a peacock. have the honor to report to you, sire," said I, “that I have delivered your dis- patch safely to the King of Spain.” “What!” he yelled, and his two cyes transfixed me like bayonets. Oh, those dreadful eyes, shifting from gray to blue, like steel in the sunshine. I can see them now when I have had a bad dream. “What has become of Charpentier?” he asked. “He is captured,” said McDonald. ‘By whom?" . “The Russians,” ‘The Cossacks’ “No, a single Cossack.” “He gave himself up?” “Without resistance.” “He is an intelligent officer. You will see = the medal of honor is awarded to ‘m.”” When I heard these words I had to rub my eyes to make sure that I was awake, cried the emperor, taking a step forward, as if he would have struck me, “you brain of a hare, what do you think that you were sent upon this mis- sion for? Do you conceive that I would send a really important message by such a hand as yours, and through every village which the enemy holds? How you came through them passes my comprehension, but If your fellow messenger had as little sense as you, my whole plan of campaign would have been ruined. Can you not see, coglione, that this message contained false news and that it was intended to deceive the enemy whilst I put a very different scheme into execution?” When I heard these cruel words and saw the angry white face which glared at me, I had to hold the back of a chair, for my mind was failing me and my kn would hardly bear me up. But then I took cour- age, as I reflected that I was an honorable gentleman and that my whole life had been spent in toiling for this man and for my beloved country. “Sire,” said I, and the tears would trickle down my cheeks whilst I spoke, “when you are dealing with a man like me you would find it wiser to deal openly. Had I known that you had wished the dispatch to fall into the hand of the enemy, I would have seen that it came there. As I believed that I was to guard it I was prepared to sacri- fice my life for It. I do not believe, sire, that any man tn the world ever met with more tolls and perils than I have done in trying to carry out what I thought was your will I dashed the tears from my eyes as T spoke and with such fire and spirit as I could command I gave him an account of it all; of my dash through Soissons, my brush with the dragoons, my adventure in Senlis, my recontre with Count Boutkine in the cellar, my disguise, my meeting with the Cossack officer, my flight and how at the last moment I was nearly cut down by a French dragoon, The emperor, Berthier and McDonald lstened with astonishment upon thelr faces. When I had finished, Napoleon stepped forward and he pinched me by the ear. “There! There!” said he. “Forget any- thing which I may have said. I would have done better to trust you. You may go. I turned to the door and my hand was upon the handle when the empe! called upon me to stop. “You will see, id he to the Duke of Tarentum, “that Brigadier Gerard has the special medal of honor, for I believe that if he haa the thickest hea stretch of road, and looking back from it | he has also the stoutest heart in my army.’