登陆注册
19905600000020

第20章 How the Brigadier Slew the Fox(3)

But courage, my friends! We have these moments of weakness, the bravest of us; but I have a spirit like a slip of steel, for the more you bend it the higher it springs.

One spasm of despair, and then a brain of ice and a heart of fire.All was not yet lost.I who had come through so many hazards would come through this one also.I rose from my horse and considered what had best be done.

And first of all it was certain that I could not get back.Long before I could pass the lines it would be broad daylight.I must hide myself for the day, and then devote the next night to my escape.I took the saddle, holsters, and bridle from poor Voltigeur, and I concealed them among some bushes, so that no one finding him could know that he was a French horse.Then, leaving him lying there, I wandered on in search of some place where I might be safe for the day.In every direction I could see camp fires upon the sides of the hills, and already figures had begun to move around them.I must hide quickly, or I was lost.

But where was I to hide? It was a vineyard in which I found myself, the poles of the vines still standing, but the plants gone.There was no cover there.Besides, I should want some food and water before anothernight had come.I hurried wildly onward through the waning darkness, trusting that chance would be my friend.

And I was not disappointed.Chance is a woman, my friends, and she has her eye always upon a gallant Hussar.

Well, then, as I stumbled through the vineyard, something loomed in front of me, and I came upon a great square house with another long, low building upon one side of it.Three roads met there, and it was easy to see that this was the posada, or wine-shop.

There was no light in the windows, and everything was dark and silent, but, of course, I knew that such comfortable quarters were certainly occupied, and probably by someone of importance.I have learned, however, that the nearer the danger may really be the safer place, and so I was by no means inclined to trust myself away from this shelter.The low building was evidently the stable, and into this I crept, for the door was unlatched.

The place was full of bullocks and sheep, gathered there, no doubt, to be out of the clutches of marauders.

A ladder led to a loft, and up this I climbed and concealed myself very snugly among some bales of hay upon the top.This loft had a small open window, and I was able to look down upon the front of the inn and also upon the road.There I crouched and waited to see what would happen.

It was soon evident that I had not been mistaken when I had thought that this might be the quarters of some person of importance.Shortly after daybreak an English light dragoon arrived with a despatch, and from then onward the place was in a turmoil, officers continually riding up and away.Always the same name was upon their lips: "Sir Stapleton--Sir Stapleton."It was hard for me to lie there with a dry moustache and watch the great flagons which were brought out by the landlord to these English officers.But it amused me to look at their fresh-coloured, clean-shaven, careless faces, and to wonder what they would think if they knew that so celebrated a person was lying so near to them.And then, as I lay and watched, I saw a sight which filled me with surprise.

It is incredible the insolence of these English!What do you supposeMilord Wellington had done when he found that Massena had blockaded him and that he could not move his army? I might give you many guesses.You might say that he had raged, that he had despaired, that he had brought his troops together and spoken to them about glory and the fatherland before leading them to one last battle.No, Milord did none of these things.But he sent a fleet ship to England to bring him a number of fox-dogs; and he with his officers settled himself down to chase the fox.It is true what I tell you.Behind the lines of Torres Vedras these mad Englishmen made the fox chase three days in the week.

We had heard of it in the camp, and now I was myself to see that it was true.

For, along the road which I have described, there came these very dogs, thirty or forty of them, white and brown, each with its tail at the same angle, like the bayonets of the Old Guard.My faith, but it was a pretty sight! And behind and amidst them there rode three men with peaked caps and red coats, whom I understood to be the hunters.After them came many horsemen with uniforms of various kinds, stringing along the roads in twos and threes, talking together and laughing.

They did not seem to be going above a trot, and it appeared to me that it must indeed be a slow fox which they hoped to catch.However, it was their affair, not mine, and soon they had all passed my window and were out of sight.I waited and I watched, ready for any chance which might offer.

Presently an officer, in a blue uniform not unlike that of our flying artillery, came cantering down the road--an elderly, stout man he was, with grey side-whiskers.He stopped and began to talk with an orderly officer of dragoons, who waited outside the inn, and it was then that I learned the advantage of the English which had been taught me.I could hear and understand all that was said.

"Where is the meet?" said the officer, and I thought that he was hungering for his bifstek.But the other answered him that it was near Altara, so I saw that it was a place of which he spoke.

"You are late, Sir George," said the orderly.

"Yes, I had a court-martial.Has Sir Stapleton Cotton gone?"At this moment a window opened, and a handsome young man in a very splendid uniform looked out of it.

"Halloa, Murray!" said he."These cursed papers keep me, but I will be at your heels.""Very good, Cotton.I am late already, so I will ride on.""You might order my groom to bring round my horse," said the young General at the window to the orderly below, while the other went on down the road.

同类推荐
  • 佛说法集经

    佛说法集经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大乘四法经释

    大乘四法经释

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 祛疑说

    祛疑说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 百川书志

    百川书志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 小辨斋偶存

    小辨斋偶存

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 查理九世之魅影天空城

    查理九世之魅影天空城

    [异地寻踪之旅]小伙伴们收到了几张神秘的邀请函,奇迹般的来到了美丽的天空之城——那里有着美丽的花海,到处香气扑鼻,但是美丽的背后谁能想象竟是如此的丑陋。天空之城上,竟然遇见了加入幽火灭世组织的唐晓翼?!到底发生了什么?千年之约,千年之前,真正的答案马上浮出水面,一切就将扭转乾坤……
  • 侵之城

    侵之城

    讲述小说主人公,高翔与初中三年两班的同桌邵芸之间发生爱恨纠缠,7年之约,打工之路,迷途之夜,情人一见,这一切的归途,又会去向何方…
  • 王妃有点腐

    王妃有点腐

    【两岸文学PK大赛】买了面价值五百大钞“皇后的魔镜”,让当红漫画家穿成了罪臣之女。皇上为了保全她的性命,让自己的皇叔娶了她。谁知这皇叔可并不是这么简单的想做挂名夫君。“或许我可以帮他介绍几个男妃,这样皇上就不会老盯着我了。说到男妃,又该找什么类型的呢?”
  • 後鑒錄

    後鑒錄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 三寸天堂

    三寸天堂

    室内设计学科教室内“设计讲究灵感,室内的天空没有室外的大,但确是在外面打拼的人渴望的一片净土……”天真坐在中间无聊的画画,时而看看手机时而听听老师的理论教授五指一点“那位头发及肩的女同学,你来回答一下这个问题。”天真猛然抬头,什么好运气啊呸,什么狗屎运……天真看看黑板,呃了半天……“就你这种不认真的学习态度怎么能学好设计?”天真小声的嘟哝“设计要灵感的……”踱步进来的程池就是听到了这句话,声音不大不小细心的都能听到。程池踏进门就听到这句不大不小的话。对你从来不是一见钟情却是蓄谋已久对你势在必得。
  • 倾世小仙

    倾世小仙

    文艺版:上一世暗恋成灾,命运却使他们彼此错过,大红的婚服映着烛光,迷蒙而又悲伤。这一世他们又在虹澜湖边相遇,他颤抖的伸出手,轻吟道:飘渺间,何处从,不知眼前物真与否。直白版:这是一个悲催姑娘的恋爱史,上一世被诳的魂飞魄散不说,这一世却被那人盯上,且给圈养了,真是是可忍,叔不可忍!舅舅不可忍!姥姥不可忍!而她却被蒙在鼓里不得不忍......(欢迎入坑,此文甜中有虐,虐中思甜,小七我可是个好人哦!!!)
  • 秋凉

    秋凉

    “秋天的中秋,有点凉,似乎预兆着什么……今晚的月亮,有点暗,似乎合上了双眼……今晚的村民,有点凶,似乎下定了决心……到底为什么,我会进到这个地方,遇见她……”“终于又该祭祀了,神一定会再次给我们带来好运……”“又该祭祀了,那个可怜的孩子啊,多好的一个人才……”“又该祭祀了,可为什么……贡品是我啊!”
  • 我的天,大学生活是这样

    我的天,大学生活是这样

    江珧曦上大学的第一天就迟到了,成为整个学院最后一个报到的学生。“但是来的晚有错吗,好吧是有一点小错,但有必要因为这个原因所有的社团不要我吗?而且为什么我一定要加入‘学生会的特别执行部‘?”江珧曦内心奔溃了,她发现在学校里有两个世界,白天和黑夜,只有极少部分人能够穿梭在两个世界中。而黑夜的主宰居然是他们的学生会主席,那个冰山男?!“天啊,大学生活是这样,我不要啊~~”柳熙铭是Z大的学生会主席同样也是’夜‘世界的主宰,当那个女生跨进校门的时候他就知道自己的命定之人到了……作者为新人小白,更新目前不定,可养肥了再看~~
  • 让青春的梦想飞扬

    让青春的梦想飞扬

    《让青春的梦想飞扬》所选小小说都是引人深思的品格故事典范。其中每一篇小说都是生活的真实写照,都会激发你的感想。从这些故事中我们可以受到成长和成才的启发,也会有更深刻的认识,受益终生! 《让青春的梦想飞扬》由孙智慧所著。
  • 拂剑任风流

    拂剑任风流

    黑莲佛教肆虐整个武林,正值江湖多事之秋,因为长相特异而被黑莲佛教追杀,险死还生的沐剑枫,偶得世外高人搭救,并授以绝世神功。出师以后以‘天玄剑诀‘行侠天下,匡正义救群雄,且邂逅红粉知己旃檀旖旎,痴情相恋患难与共;无意中赢得武林正道人士的拥戴,出任诛灭黑莲佛教的统领。至此沐剑枫出生入死,走南闯北,终于探魔窟诛逆贼,完成了诛灭黑莲佛教匡扶正义的大业;并在无奈之中再得黑莲佛教元凶宠女的青睐。巍巍鬼谷山,茫茫雪野,少年大侠独拥双骄,傲立于险恶多变的江湖途中......’------------------欢迎您的到来!谢谢您的到来!谢谢您的点击!谢谢您的收藏,和推荐!!