The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard

throughout in its English

ere veterans when they were yet boys, who learned to use a sword earlier than a razor, and who during a hundred battles had never once let the enemy see the colour of their knapsacks. For twenty years we were teaching Europe how to fight, and even when they had learned their lesson it was only the thermometer, and never the bayonet, which

dust and smoke I see the line of high bonnets, the row of brown faces, the swing and toss of the long, red plumes amid the sloping lines of steel. And there rides Ney with his red head, and Lefebvre with his bulldog jaw, and Lannes with his Gascon swagger; and then amidst the gleam of brass and the flaunting feathers

, fodder and farriers, and quarters, so that even when he is not in the face of the enemy, life is a very serious matter for him. But when he is only a lieutenant or a captain he has nothing heavier than his epaulettes upon his shoulders, so that he can clink his spurs and swing his dolman, drain his glass and kiss his girl, thinking of nothing save of enjoying a gallant life.

fter the taking of Danzig, Major Legendre and I were commissione

apidly, however, for the snow was deep, the roads detestable, and we had but twenty returning invalids to assist us. Besides, it is impossible, when you have a daily change of forage, and sometimes none at all, to move horses faster than a walk. I am aware that in the story-books the cavalry whirls past a

y differed in character as much as the people of those provinces. We observed also, what I have often proved since, that the nature of a horse can be told by his colour, from the coquettish light bay, full of fancies and nerves, to the hardy chestnut, and from the docile roan to the pig-heade

ot as far as Riesenberg, when Major Legendre came into

e,’ said he, with d

he was, if I may say so, hardly worthy to have

; ‘you are to proceed to Rossel instantly, and to r

e understood how incomplete my squadron would be without me. It is true that it came at an inconvenient moment, for the keeper of the post-house had a daughter — one of those ivory-skinned, black-haired Polish girls — with whom I ha

the jingle of bridle chains which comes with every toss of a saucy head, would even now set my blood dancing through my veins. You may think, then, how I carried myself in my five-and-twentieth year — I, Etienne Gerard, the picked horseman and surest blade in the ten regiments of hussars. Blue was our colour in the Tenth — a sky-blue dolman a

ile for my own part I had too much to think of to give much heed to the cold. To north and south stretched the great plains, mottled over with dark clumps of fir and lighter patches of larch. A few cottages peeped out here and there, but it was only three months since the Grand Army had passed that way, and you know what that meant to a country. The Poles were our friends,

d stragglers, it seemed to me that it would be a very long time before I should join my comrades. The plains, however, were five feet deep in snow, so there was nothing for it but to plod upon our way. It was with joy, therefore, that I found a second road which branched away from the other, trending through a fir-wood towards the north. There w

id he, seeing that

‘I am Lieutenant Etien

had heard of me since my duel with the six fencing masters.

ant Duroc, of the

oined?’

t we

o veteran troopers. It made me blush, I remember, to shout abrupt commands to men who had seen more battles than I had years, and it would have come more natural for me to say, ‘With your permission, we shall now wheel i

ther you are going by thi

atrol it as far as

so far with you,’ said I. ‘It is very cle

as a good boy, this Duroc, with his head full of the nonsense that they teach at St Cyr, knowing more about Alexander and Pompey than how to mix a horse’s fodder or care for a horse’s feet. Still, he was, as I have said, a good boy, uns

the man who calls himself the Baron

s, but when, at the next village, my comrade repeated the same question, with th

flush upon his boyish face, ‘to whom I

t any further questioning would be distasteful to him. I said nothing more, therefore, but Duroc wo

e camp round the flanks of which we were travelling. Far to the south a few plumes of grey smoke in the frosty air marked the position of some of our outposts. To the north, however, there was nothing between ourselves and the Russian winter qua

, and on our left a high black castle, which jutted out from amongst the pine-woods. A farme

e is this?’

answered, in his bar

n. Then, turning to the farmer, he asked his eternal quest

oom,’ said the farmer, pointing to the d

head — his eyes shining, his face deathly white, and such a grim set about his mouth as made the farmer shrink away

it the Castle o

accounts there have been some black doings up yonder. It’s not for nothing tha

nobleman

such men in Pola

n, then?’ c

at he came f

ith re

d as a

of Providence which has led me here. Who can say that there is not justice in this world? Come, Mo

were at the door of the inn of Arensdorf, where

ed to ride on for a few hours and take my chance of some wayside barn in which I could find shelter for Rataplan and myself. I had moun

nted, ‘I beg of you not

atter and what you would wish me to do, I should be better

m all that I have heard of you, Monsieur Gerard, you are

I am riding to

er the very greatest kindness upon me, and you will aid me in a matter which concerns my own honour and the hon

se, I sprang from Rataplan’s back and ordered

‘and let me know exactly what

mp, with the light beating upon his earnest face and upon his uniform of silver grey, which suited him to a marvel, I felt my heart warm towards him. Wi

iosity, it is because the subject is so painful a one to me that I can hardly bring myself to allude t

t. My father had been a benefactor of the poor all his life. There were many to plead for him. He had the fever, too, and was carried in, half-dead, upon a blanket. Two of the judges were in favour of acquitting him; the third, a young Jacobin, whose huge body and brutal mind had made him a leader among these wretches, dragged him, with his own h

e was Carabin. He was one of Sansterre’s Guard, and a noted duellist. A foreign lady named the Baroness Straubenthal having been dragged before the Jacobins, he had gained her liberty for her on the promise tha

oney, and that without money such a search is very difficult. Then came the Empire, and it became more difficult still, for, as you are aware, the Emperor considered that the 18

Then it became my turn, and I have the good fortune to hear of the very man of whom I am in search at one of the first Polish villages which I have to visit, and within a fortnight of joining m

ith the greatest interest, but I was none the

of service to

ing up

he Ca

cise

he

on

do you int

o. But I wish you to be

ympathy with the lad’s feelings. It is very well to forgive one’s enemies, but one

ssel tomorrow morning, but

ost clumsy when he has to loop up his sabre and his sabre-tasche in one hand and turn in his toes for fear of catching the rowels of his spurs. Still, Duroc and I were of the age when one can carry things off, and I dare swear that no woman at least would have quarrelled with the appearanc

arbine would carry. It was a huge, uncouth place, and bore every mark of being exceedingly old, with turrets at every corner, and a square keep on the side which was nearest to us. In all its great shadow there was no sign of light save from a sin

. A thin, hawk-faced man, with a beard up to his temples, opened it at last. He carried a lantern in one hand, and in the other a chain which held an e

ve visitors at so late an hour,’ said

s to see him, and that I will not leave until I have done so,’ said my c

ok at us, and tugged at his b

o of wine in him at this hour, and you would certainly find him a m

ll behind him that three other rough fellows were standing there, one of whom held another of t

the man to one side. ‘It is with

r of one man who knows what he wants over several who are not sure of themselves. My comp

o the Baro

The fellow with the beard, who had shut and barred the front doo

smile. ‘You shall see the Baron. And perhaps, before you h

us, with skins scattered upon the floor, and the heads of wild beasts

dirty dishes and the sordid remains of a meal. Several bottles were scattered over it. At the head of it, and facing us, there sat a huge man with a lion-like head and a great shock of orange-coloured hair. His beard was of the same glaring hue; matted and tangled and coarse as a horse’s mane. I have seen some strange faces in my time, but n

ll become slaves yourselves — slaves to a little aristocrat with his grey coat and his three-cornered hat. No more citizens either, I a

ilence, and stood b

rabin,’

film of drunkenness seemed

n,’ said Dur

grasped the ar

repeating that name,

re a man whom I have

e, how can it concern you, since you

me is

he son

the man yo

laugh, but there wa

ople. Your father was of the Gironde. He fell. I was of the mountain. Most of my comrades fell. It was all the fortune of

d do what is just and right. I dishonour my blade by crossing it with yours. And yet you are a French

ron. ‘It is all very wel

and into the centre of the great orange beard. I saw a li

die for t

better,’

ll not keep you waiting, I promise

here ran from behind it a woman, young and beautiful. So swiftly and noiselessly did she move that sh

rself splendidly.’ She stooped to my companion’s hand, and kiss

should you kiss

ughter. The woman whose heart he broke was my mother. I loathe him, I fear him. Ah, there is his step!’ In an instant she had vanished as s

fair. But we shall need more elbow-room than we can find here. Pe

by a great table. We followed him out, therefore, into the dimly-l

a shelf in the corner. The floor was level and true, so that no swordsman could ask for more. Duroc drew his sabre and sprang into it. The Baron stood back with a bow and

The sound of our blows and of our execrations must have resounded through the Castle. We called to this villain, hurling at him every name which might pierce even into his hardened soul. But the door was enormous — such a door as one finds in mediaeval castles — made of huge beams clamped together with iron. It was as easy to break as a square of the Old Guard. And our c

row that one could not so much as get one’s head through. It was hi

you see?

now between them,’ said he. ‘

ront. A man was riding down it, flogging his horse and galloping like a madman. As we watche

that mean?’

igands to cut our throats. Let us see if we cannot find

ere was only a single line of them, while in one corner they were piled nearly to the ceiling. It seemed that we were in the storehouse of the Castle, for there were a great number of cheeses, vegetables of various kinds, bins full of dried fruits, and a line of wine barrels. One of these h

s Etienne Gerard, the most dashing lieutenant in the whole Grand Army, in imminent danger of being cut off at the very outset of his brilliant career. Who was ever to know the heights to which I might have risen if I were knocked on the head in this hole-and-corner business, which had nothing whatever to do with France or the

is threats. ‘You may do what you like to him when you get the upper h

’ cried the boy. ‘I ow

duty to your father, I owe one to my mother, whi

ought him to

cried. ‘Forgive me, Monsieur Gerard. Giv

mean to make an end of us if they can. That is certain. They hope that no one knows that we have

id no

kill us. Behind a barricade of barrels we could hold our own against the five rascals

out before

f we are to g

urn down this d

of oil in the corner. My only objection is that we should

ething?’ he cried, in de

me between the stars and ourselves. A small, white hand was stre

k!’ cried a

he barrel in

acks. Your lives are at stak

ough the window. We stood helpless upon the barrel with our blood cold with horror. Half a minute after

seized her. They wi

eason has left him. He struck the door so frantically with hi

from the floor. ‘She must have thrown it

small that it was lost in the enormous lock. Duroc sank upon one of the boxes with his head between his hands. He

, because this murderous step-father of hers would most certainly have it in his pocket. Yet this other must have a meaning, or why sh

like maniacs, slinging barrels, cheeses, and boxes pell-mell into the middle of the room. At last there only remained one huge barrel of vodka, which stood in the corner. With our united strength we rolled it out,

s all round it, and one with the top staved in in the centre. The powder from it l

than before,’ cried Du

a dozen!’

he

the line of p

blow this

cise

ld explode t

was not at the en

en the store-roo

it while I cut off the end of a candle. When we had finished, it would have puzzled a colonel of engineers to make a better petard. I put three cheeses on the top

so long to burn? My ears were straining all the time for the thudding of the hoofs of the Cossacks who were coming to destroy us. I had almost made up my mind that the candle must have gone out when there was a smack like a bursting bomb, our door flew to bits, and pieces of cheese,

forehead. The second was a huge dog, with two of its legs broken, twisting in agony upon the floor. As it raised itself up I saw the two broken ends flapping like flails. At the same instant I heard a cry, and there was Duroc, thrown against the wall, with the oth

they cowered away from our drawn swords and furious faces. The blood was streaming from Duroc’s neck and dyeing the grey fur of his pelisse. Such was the lad’s fire, however, that he

sword advanced, I could not but think that, in spite of all his villainies, he had a proper figure for a grenadier. The lady lay cowering in a chair behind him. A weal across one of her white arms and a dog-whip upon the

thing of his weapon, and was as fierce and active as a wild cat, but in so narrow a space the weight and strength of the giant gave him the advantage. Besides, he was an admirable swordsman. His parade and riposte were as quick as light

ut you have still to de

y-covered wall, breathing in little, hoarse

said I. ‘I will awai

e of quarrel agai

shut me up in your store-room. Besides, if all other

n all my little affairs I have met six men who had a better knowledge of their weapon. But he knew that I was his master. He read death in my eyes, and I could see that he read it. The flush died from his face. His breath came in shorter and in thicker gasps. Yet he fought on, even after the final thrust had come, and died still hacking and cursing, with foul cries up

ut in her delight. For my part I was disgusted to see a woman take such delight in a deed of blood, and I gave no thought as to the terrible wrongs which must have befallen her before she could so far forget the g

, tugging at his shoulder

store-room some of the boxes were already blazing. I glanced in, and as I did so my blood was turned to water by the sight of the powder barrels beyond, and of the loose heap upon the floor. It might be seconds

other arm. Out of the gateway we rushed, and on down the snow-covered path until we were on the fringe of the fir forest. It was at that moment that I heard a crash behind me, and, glancing round, saw a great spout of f

irl had run to Arensdorf, how she had roused our hussars, and how she had only just brought them back in time to save us from the spears of the Cossacks who had been summoned from their bivouac by that same black-bearded secretary whom we had seen galloping so swiftly over the snow. As to the brave lady who had twice saved our lives, I could not learn very much about her at that moment f