The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard

nerals, or some foreigner of distinction who finds himself in our little town, takes advantage of the opportunity to pay his respects to the well-known Brigadier Gerard. Then I place it upon my breas

y as a civilian. Had you seen me as I stood in the doorway of the inn at Alamo, on the

orget; but they all got well and hurried on to the front, while I sat gnawing my fingers and tearing my hair, and even, I must confess, weeping from time to time as I thought of my Hussars of Conflans, and the deplorable condition in which they must find themselves when deprived of their colonel. I was not a chief of brigade yet, you

the other side of the mountains, face to face with the English — not forty miles from me by road. But how was I to get to them? The same thrust which had pierced my ankle had slain my charger. I took advice b

, was out that way with his band, and that it meant a death by torture to fall into his hands. The old priest observed, however, that he d

clink of shoes, and, looking up, I saw a great bearded man, with a blue cloak frogged across in military

e!’ said I, as

a!’ sa

‘I have lain here wounded for a month, and I

m myself upon my way to Pastores. I should be glad to have your c

will sell me yours, I will promise that an

nd to the country. He would not even argue, but called loudly for a cup of wine. I craftily asked him to dismount and to drink with me, but he must have seen something in my fac

brandy-casks, and then to think of my five hundred beautiful hussars without their leader. I was gazing after him

you,’ he said. ‘I am m

kle gave way at the same moment, we n

ken one from the Convent of Spiritu Santo. It shows how necessary it is to take what y

ope for any reward, but because it is my way always to do what I can t

ve seen in their stalls at Fontainebleau. In ten minutes the owner was harnessing them into the coach, with no very good will, however, for he was in mortal dread of this terrible Cuchillo. It was only by promising him riches in this world, while the priest threatened him with perdition in the next, that we at last got him safely upon the box with the reins between his fingers. Then he was in such a hurry to get off, out of fear lest we should find our

e mountains, and I in my turn told him stories about the camp; but, my faith, I had to pick my steps, for when I said a word too much he would fidget in his seat and his face would show the pain that I

he little gifts which he was taking to her, and so kindly was his manner that I could readily believe him when he said he was loved wherever he went. He examined my own uniform with as much curiosity as a child, admiring the plume of my busby, and passing his fingers through the sable with which my dolma

than to have gone straight to him, for if, as some said, he had Jewish blood in his veins, he was the best Jew that I have heard of since Joshua’s time. If you were in sight of his beaky nose and bold, black eyes, you were not likely to miss much of what was going on. Still, a siege is always a poor sort of a pi

nkled cliff succeeding another, and the pass growing narrower and narrower, that I ceased to look out, but sat in silence, thinking of this and that, of women whom I had loved and of horses which I had handled. I was suddenly brought back from my dreams, however, by observing the difficulties of my companion, who was trying with a sor

thern pouch, one can afford to confess when one is frightened. It may console some of you, when your own nerves play you tricks, to remember that you have heard even me, Brigadier Gerard, say that I have been

d, and again I fell with my knees upon his chest. Then, for the first time, he screamed horribly, while I, half blinded, felt about for the sword which he had so cunningly concealed. My hand had just lighted

ggle and was covering one of my eyes, and it was with my wounded eye that I was seeing this gang of brigands. You see for yourself by this pucker and scar how the thin blade passed between socket and ball, but it was only at that moment, when I was dragged from the coach, that I understood

at I lay quiet, they thought that I was unconscious, whereas I was storing every ugly face among them into my memory, so that I might see them all safely hanged if ever my chance came round. Brawny rascals they were, with yellow handkerchiefs round their heads, and great red sashes stuffed with weapons. They had rolled two rocks across the path, wher

th rage and pain, he sat straight down upon his feet when they tried to set him upright. But all the time his two little black eyes, which had seemed so kindly and so innocent in the coach, were glaring at me like a wounded cat, and he spat, and spat, and spat in my direction. My faith! when the wretches jerked me on to my feet ag

d have spoiled my appearance, I have made no journey to which I look back with less pleasure. I have never been a good climber at any time, but it is asto

were the secret paths by which they crossed the Portuguese frontier. There were many mule-tracks, and once I was surprised to see the marks of a large horse where a stream had softened the track. These were explained when, on reaching a place where th

a clearing, and an instant later ten or a dozen more brigands came out from amongst them, and the two parties greeted each other. The new-comers surrounded my friend of the brad-awl with cries of grief and sympathy, and then, turning upon me, they brandished their knives and howled at me like the gang of assassins t

a pair of torches which blazed from a socket on either side. Between them there was sitting at a rude table a very singular-looking person, whom I saw instantly, from the re

ollow between the chief and him, that he was the lieutenant of the band, and that part of his duties was to lie in wait with his smooth tongue and his peaceful garb for travellers like myself. When I thought of how many gallant officers may have b

skers, which gave him the appearance of a well-to-do grocer of the Rue St Antoine. He had not any of those flaring sashes or gleaming weapons which distinguished his followers, but on the contrary he wore a good broadcloth coat like a respectable father of a family, and save for his brown leggings there was nothing to indicate a life among the mountains. His surroundings, too, corresponded with himself, and beside his snuff-box upon the table there stood a great brown book, which looked like a commercial ledger. Many other books were

y excellent French, ‘that you are not able

with the Spanish language was so lim

h. That is why our best work has been done in blank verse, a form of composition which is capable o

stooping over his half-finished verse. Presently he threw down the pen with an exclamation of satisfaction, and declaimed a few lines whi

understand. I have some little facility in that direction, and I do not at all despair of seeing some of my poor efforts in

nne G

an

lon

or

Hussars o

oung for a

as been an e

he sadder,’ said he,

o show him by my bearing that I was rea

ges of his big brown register. ‘We endeavour to keep a record of our operations. Here is a heading

tain

buried him up

cried. ‘And ho

uried

re you bu

Colonel. He was not dea

ried hi

three wretches not dragged me away from him. Again and again I made for him, panting and cursing, shaking off this man and that, straining and wrenching, but never quite free

ds. You will find, you bloodthirsty beast, that my Emperor has long arms, and though you lie here like a rat i

ot let fly at him; but he sat with the handle of his pen tapping against his forehead and his eyes squinting up at the roof as i

ut your life may be as short as that of your absurd verse

ed death and torture as a grocer serves out his figs, had one raw nerve then which I could prod at plea

hat you have had a very distinguished career. I promise you also a very distinguishe

’ I had one or two little ironies to utter, but he cut me short by a

try, but to cook their evening meal. A huge copper pot hung over the blaze, and the rascals were lying all round in the yellow glare, so that the scene looked like one of those pictures which Junot stole out of Madrid. There are some soldiers who profess to care nothing for art and the like, but I have always been drawn towards it

arettes within hands’ touch of me. What to do I could not imagine. In my whole career I do not suppose that I have ten times been in as hopeless a situation. ‘But courage,’ thought I. ‘Courage, my brave boy! You were not made a Colonel of Hussars at twenty-eight because you could dance a

e projecting above the bush, and fastened apparently to the tree, a pair of fine riding boots with the toes upwards. At first I thought that they were tied there, but as I looked harder I saw that they were secured by a great nail which was hammered through the foot of each. And then, suddenly, with a thrill of horror, I understood that these were not empty boots; and moving my head a little to the right, I was able to see who it was that had been fastened there, and why a fire had b

it was too late now. The cork was drawn and I must drain the wine. Besides, if the harmless commissariat man were put to such a death, what hope was there for me, who had snapped the spine of their lieutenant? No, I was doomed in any case, and it was as well perhaps that I should have put the best face on the matter. This beast could bear witness that Etienne Gerard had died as he had

loosen them I was peering round to see if I could find something which was in my favour. There was one thing which was very evident. A hussar is but half formed without a horse, and there was my other half quietly grazing within thirty yards of me. Then I observed yet another thing. The path by which we had come over the mountains was

hen said some few words to the band, who clapped their hands and laughed uproariously. Things looked ominous, and I was delighted to feel that my hands were so far free that I could easily slip them through the cords if I wished. But with my ankle

dangling down, and I waited with some curiosity, and just a little trepidation also, to see what they would do next. The whole band pulled upon one of the ropes until they had bent the strong young tree down into a semi-circle, and they then fastened it to a stump, so as to hold it so. When the

n, Colonel,’ said the chief, coming

loosen these cords,’ I answered,

of each rope round your ankles and then let the trees go. If you are stronger than the trees, then, of course, no harm would be done; if, on

m in my darker humour, or if I have a touch of my old Lithuanian ague, I see in my sleep that ring o

s, as I have never smelled or seen or heard save at such times of danger. And so it was that long before anyone else, before even the time when the chief had addressed me, I had heard a low, monotonous sound, far away indeed, and yet coming nearer at every instant. At first it was but a murmur, a rumble, but by the time he had finished speaking, while the assassins were u

mouth and tried to drag me up to the trees, I kept on yelling, ‘Help me

rium, and I looked for nothing less than my five hundred hussa

to the colour of a withered oak-leaf wherever the weather could reach it. His shoulder-straps, however, were of golden lace, and he had a bright metal helmet upon his head, with a coquettish white plume upon one side of its crest. He trotted his horse up the glade, while behind him rode four cavaliers in the same dress — all clean-shaven, with round, comely faces, looking to me more like monks than dragoons. At a short, gruff order

bad French, ‘what game are you up to here? Who was that who

only to slip my hands out of the cords, and with a single rush I had flown across, picked up my sabre where it lay by the fire, and hurled myself on to the saddle of poor Vidal’s horse. Yes, for all my woun

h better than his French. ‘If you will look at that tree to the left you will se

tmare. ‘Godam!’ cried the officer, and ‘Godam!’ cried each of the four troopers, which is the same as with us when we cry ‘Mon Dieu!’

ur skin, frog

in my grip. I waved it above my head and shouted in my exultatio

erve that this Frenchman

him. ‘It is a disgrace to us to have such allies. By my faith, if Lor

said the brigand,

with us to th

your ear befor

missed me, he raised the pistol and was about to hurl it at me when the English sergeant, with a single back-handed cut, nearly severed his head from his body. His blood had not reached the ground, nor the

hest was nearly bursting my tunic to think that I, Etienne Gerard, had left this gang of murderers so much by which to remember me. My faith, they would think twice before they ventured again to lay hands upon one of the Third Hussars.

’ said he. ‘Any in

e hit with a pistol b

th troopers Harvey and Smith, to keep to the right

he had been sent out scouting by Lord Wellington to see if there were any signs of our advancing through the mountains. It is one advantage of a wandering life like mine, that you learn to pick up those bits of knowledge which distinguish the man of the world. I have, for example, hardly ever met a Frenchman who cou

little Coralie, of the Opera. He took a lock of hair from his bosom, and I a garter. Then we nearly quarrelled over hussar and dragoon, for he was absurdly proud of his regiment, and you should have seen him curl his lip and clap his hand to his hilt when I said that I hoped it might never be its misfortune to come in the way of the Third. Finally, he began to speak about what the English call sport, and he told such stories of the money which he had lost

us. It was very rocky and broken ground, and I thought, although I could see nothing, that a general engagement had broken out. The Bart laughed at my idea,

shall be up with the

e horse was altogether out of sight. I looked on every side, but in the whole of that vast rocky valley there was no one save only the Bart and I— both of us armed, you unde

fixed rules, and when these rules are broken one must at once claim the forfeit. If, for example, I had given a parole, then I should have been an infamous wretch had I dreamed of escaping. But no parole had been asked of me. Out of over-confidence, and the chance of the lame horse dropping behind, the Bart had permitted me to get upon equal terms with him. Had it b

times repeated that which the Eng

me the slip, wou

ive no reason

d the Bart, ‘is that I should instantly cu

that game, my d

play at it best,’ he cri

determined not to hurt this admirable

are mine. We are alone here, and though I have no doubt that you are an excellent swordsman,

half of his white plume. He thrust at my breast. I turn

s!’ he cried, as I wheel

me?’ said I. ‘You see th

he; ‘but you’ve got to come

er see the c

you do,’ he cried, as he

r way than fighting? The Bart was placing me in such a position that I should have to hurt him, or

We shall throw dice as to which

. It appealed to

your dice

ave

But I ha

et it be

the g

ve it

en — the be

ere were three men in France who were my masters at the game. I to

tier’s,’ said he. ‘With even luck yo

The Bart took a pack of cards out of his tunic, and I had only to see him shuffle

in the game — my mother, my hussars, the Sixth Corps d’Armée, Ney, Massena, even the Emperor himself — were forming a ring round us in that desolate valley. Heavens, what a blow to one and all of them should the cards go against

no more. In the second, I never played better and saved a trick by a finesse, but the Bart voled me once, marked the ki

are against your bl

!’ sa

against

!’ sa

le, and stirr

’ I sh

m. I would have laid my hussars against h

ained three on the first hand. The Bart bit his moustache and drummed his hands, while I already felt myself at the head of my dear little rascals. On the second, I turned the king, but lost two

ord, and I will lay them

h my ace of trumps. One point in my favour. The correct play was to clear the trumps, and I led the knave. Down came the queen upon it, and the game was equal. He led the eight of spades, and I could only discard my queen of diamonds. Then came the seven of spades, and the hair stood straig

piration would trickle into my eyes. The deal lay with him, and I may confess to you, my friends, that my hands shook so that I could hardly pick my cards from the rock. But when I raised them, what was

staring over my shoulder with the most dreadful expression of consterna

is gaunt cheeks, his beak-like nose, his masterful blue eyes, his thin, firm slit of a mouth which made one feel that this was a wonderful man, a man of a million. His brows were tied into a knot, and he cast such a glance at my poor Bart from under them that one by one the cards came fluttering down from his nerveless fingers. Of the two o

the deuce is this?’

with the red coat. ‘Lord Wellingt

f all that had occurred, but that ro

e in. ‘The discipline of this force must be maintained

glish General. I pleaded with him for my friend. I told him how I, Colonel Gerard, would witness what a dashing young officer he was. Ah,

that was all this phlegmatic Englishman had to answer to these burning words of m

ule?’ asked the man

and ten pou

dly,’ said Lord Wellington. ‘Re

ght that the game had been in my hands, and that I ought at that m

d for my freedom and I won, for,

a slight smile soft

nted his horse, ‘it is I who won, for