More ragged6 and tattered7, more travel-stained indeed, and with only the semblance8 of a uniform left, was the young lad who stood by the soldier's side. But the boy was in good health and looked strong and sturdy.
"There," said the officer. "You see that square bulk of buildings against the wall beyond the Cathedral church-tower and over the Palais de Justice?"
"I see them, my officer," answered the other, shading his hand and staring over the roofs and walls and spires9 of the compact little town.
"The barracks will be there unless the regiment10 has moved. That will be the end of our journey."
"The building with the flag, you mean, monsieur?" asked Pierre.
"That one."
Alas11! the flag was no longer the tricolor but the white flag of ancient royal France. Marteau heaved a deep sigh as he stared at it with sad eyes and sadder face.
The unexpected, that is, from the young soldier's point of view, had happened. The empire was no more. The allies had triumphed. The Emperor has been beaten. He had abdicated12 and gone. He was practically a prisoner on the little island of Elba, adjacent to that greater island of Corsica, where he had been born. The great circle of his life had been completed. And all the achievements were to be comprehended between those two little islands in the blue Mediterranean—from Corsica to Elba, the phrase ran. Was that all?
Much water had flowed under the bridges of Europe since that mad ride of the infantry13 in the farm wagons14 to face Schwarzenberg after their smashing and successful attacks upon Blücher, although the intervening time had been short. A year had scarcely elapsed, but that twelve months had been crowded with incident, excitement, and vivid interest almost unparalleled by any similar period in modern history. The Emperor had, indeed, fought hard for his throne and against heavy odds15. He had fought against indifference16, against carelessness, against negligence17, last of all against treachery. For in the end it was treachery that had undone18 him and France. Still, it may be that even had Marmont and Mortier remained loyal the end would have been the same.
The odds were too heavy, in fine. The Emperor did not realize their preponderance until it was too late. If he had assembled every soldier, abandoning everything else but the defense19 of France, and if he had shown with such an army as he could have gathered under those conditions the same spirit of generalship which he had exhibited in that marvelous campaign against Blücher, he might have saved France, his throne, his wife, his little son, his prestige, everything. As it was, he lost all. But not without fighting. Stubborn, determined20, magnificently defiant21 he had been to the last.
Marteau had often thrilled to the recollection during the long hours he spent in captivity in Austria, and even in the delirium22 and fever of his long and wasting illness, begot23 of the foul24 prison, he had remembered it. In all the hard fighting and hard marching of those mournful if splendid days the young man had faithfully and well borne his important if humble25 part. There was a great dearth26 of officers, staff officers as well as the others. He had been very near to the Emperor during those last days.
He remembered the smashing attack upon the van of the allies at Montereau. He could feel once more the thrill of the army, as the circumspect27 Schwarzenberg stopped his advance, retired28, concentrated his columns. He remembered the long, swift march back across the country, after further demonstrations29 to keep Schwarzenberg in his cautious mood, against the rear of the reorganized and advancing army of Blücher; the desperate, bloody30, fruitless battles of Laon and Craonne, rendered necessary by treachery.
He could recall again the furious rage of Napoleon, the almost despair that filled the Emperor's heart, when the news came of the cowardly surrender of the fort at Soissons by its incapable31 commandant, which rendered useless Napoleon's cunning plans, and all the hard marching and harder fighting of his heroic soldiery.
He recalled the escape of hard-pressed Blücher again, the return of the French to face the overwhelming main army of the allies, slowly but surely moving toward its goal whenever the withdrawal32 of the Emperor left it free to advance, the detachment of Marmont and Mortier to defend Paris, the fierce two-day battle at Arcis-sur-Aube, the dash of Maurice's and Sebastiani's gallant33 cavalry34 upon the whole Austrian army, the deadly conflict before the bridge, the picture of the retreat that bade fair to become a rout35.
He could see again the Emperor, riding down, sword in hand, into the midst of the fugitives36 crossing the bridge, and, amid a storm of bullets, ordering and beseeching37 and imploring38 the men to rally. He had been there on that mad March morning. He would never forget the sight of that figure, the words the Emperor said. It reminded him of the dash of the "little corporal" with the flag on the bridge of Lodi, of which old Bullet-Stopper had often told him and the other young men over the camp-fires.
The Fifth-of-the-Line had immortalized itself that day, adding to the fame it had gained upon a hundred fields, an imperishable crown. Napoleon saw that the battle was lost, that the whole Austrian army had blundered upon that first French division and that, unless their steady advance could be checked, the division itself would be cut to pieces. Men had grown more precious to the Emperor every hour. What would he not have given for those he had spent so recklessly years before? And here was a whole division about to be annihilated40, to say nothing of the cavalry, which had performed prodigies41 of valor42.
"What regiment is that?" he had asked Marteau, who was riding at his heels in the midst of the fugitives, and doing his best to second the Emperor's frantic43 efforts to restore order and bring the men to a stand.
"The Fifth-of-the-Line, Sire."
"Your old regiment?"
"The same, Sire."
"It still stands."
"And it will stand."
"Good! Go to it. Tell them that I, the Emperor, devote them to death, for me and for the army. They must hold the Austrians in check and cover the retreat."
"Farewell, Sire," the young soldier had said, saluting44.
"What mean you?"
"I shall not come back with the remainder."
"Adieu," said the Emperor, acknowledging the salute45 and understanding all.
How well Marteau remembered that frightful46 conflict. The Fifth-of-the-Line had not waited to be attacked. It had gone forward. The Colonel had been shot down. Officer after officer had fallen. The advancing line had wavered, hesitated, halted. The Eagle-bearer fell. Eager hands caught the staff. The Austrian fire was concentrated upon it. The color guard was shot to pieces. The Eagle itself had the tip of its right wing shot away. Mortal men could do no more. The regiment began to give back.
It was Marteau who sprang to the front, he and young Pierre, who had attached himself to the officer in a sort of unofficial way. It was Marteau who seized the Eagle; it was he who rallied the line. The new men formed up like veterans, the old men settled in their places, cool and ready. They returned the Austrian fire, they checked the Austrian advance, they stood ready while the troops behind them ran for their lives. Napoleon, whose eye nothing escaped, saw it all. He even recognized Marteau carrying the Eagle.
The Fifth-of-the-Line made good that defense until the time came for the retreat. Then it retired slowly, fighting every step of the way down the low hill to the bridge. The men dropped by scores. The Austrians, seeing victory in reach, pressed closer. A charge at the last minute by the cuirassiers of the Emperor Francis' guard almost completed the annihilation of the first battalion47 of the regiment. The survivors48 sought to form a square, under a withering49 gun fire, to meet the uplifted sabers of the heavy cavalry. There were not enough of them left. They were ridden down. Two hundred and fifty of the four hundred who went into that fight lay dead on that field. Of the survivors scarce a handful got across the river. Some of the unhurt men, disdaining50 quarter and unable to fly, fought until they fell. The wounded, of whom there were many, were all captured out of hand.
Marteau, with the Eagle, had stood nearest the enemy. They had swarmed51 about him at last. He found himself alone, save for the boy, Pierre. He could see the red-faced, excited, shouting, yelling, passion-animated Austrian soldiers crowding upon him. His sword was broken, his pistols empty and gone. He was defenseless. Retreat was cut off. The Eagle staff had been shot away. The flag torn to pieces. Hands were stretched out to seize it. He could not escape with it, yet it must not fall to the enemy. It was the tradition of the service that the Eagles were to be preserved at all hazards—not the flag, that was a mere52 perishable39 adjunct to the Eagle, but the Eagle itself. The river ran but a few feet away. Thrusting aside the nearest Austrian with the stump53 of his blade, Marteau cleared a path for a second, and into the swift deep waters he hurled54 the sacred emblem55.
He, at least, he thought swiftly, had a right to dispose of it thus, for out of the waters of the Elster he had brought it, so into the waters of the Aube he threw it.
With cries of rage, for the Eagle was the most precious spoil of war, and the regiment or the officer seizing it was distinguished56 above all others, the Austrians would have cut him down where he stood with arms crossed, facing the enemy, but officers who had ridden up had seen the exploit and had interfered57. He had been made a prisoner and Pierre with him. He just had time to whisper to the boy to mark well the spot where the Eagle had disappeared in the waters before they marched away.
While under guard with other prisoners at Salzburg he had heard the story of the end. How Napoleon, trusting the defense of Paris to Marmont and Mortier, had resolved on the bold move of cutting the communications of the allies with his little army, and how the allies had decided58 to disregard their rear and march on Paris; how Marmont and Mortier had battled for the capital, how the Emperor, hearing of their straits, had begun that mad march toward his beloved city; how he had ordered every soldier that could be reached to march in that direction; how he had stopped at a wayside inn one night for a few hours' rest, after a furious day's ride, only to be told that Marmont and Mortier had gone over to the enemy, that Paris was lost!
The prisoners had learned how the Emperor, not yet despairing, had striven to quicken the spirits of his marshals and soldiers for a last try; how the marshals and great officers had failed him. They had all heard of those lonely hours at Fontainebleau, of the farewell to the Guard, of the kiss on the Eagle, which he surrendered to General Petit, of the abdication59, of the exile to Elba, of the restoration of King Louis.
It had made Marteau ill, frightfully so, and but for the tender nursing and loving care of young Pierre he had died. The lad had been devotion itself, but Marteau missed more than anything else the companionship, the sage60 advice, the bon camaraderie61 of old Bullet-Stopper. He had never seen him or heard from him after that day at the bridge-head at Arcis. Where was he now?
Oh, yes, those days and their tidings would never be forgot. They all came back to the young officer, as with his humble but devoted62 companion he stood there on the heights above Grenoble looking at the white flag.
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1
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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2
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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3
frayed
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| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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5
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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6
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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8
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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10
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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11
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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12
abdicated
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| 放弃（职责、权力等）( abdicate的过去式和过去分词 )； 退位，逊位 | |
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13
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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14
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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15
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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16
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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17
negligence
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| n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意 | |
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18
undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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19
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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20
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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21
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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22
delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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23
begot
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| v.为…之生父( beget的过去式 )；产生，引起 | |
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24
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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25
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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26
dearth
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| n.缺乏，粮食不足，饥谨 | |
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27
circumspect
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| adj.慎重的，谨慎的 | |
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28
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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29
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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30
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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31
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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32
withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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33
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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34
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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35
rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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36
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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37
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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38
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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39
perishable
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| adj.（尤指食物）易腐的，易坏的 | |
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40
annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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41
prodigies
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| n.奇才，天才（尤指神童）( prodigy的名词复数 ) | |
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42
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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43
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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44
saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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45
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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46
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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47
battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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48
survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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49
withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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50
disdaining
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| 鄙视( disdain的现在分词 )； 不屑于做，不愿意做 | |
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51
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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52
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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53
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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54
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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55
emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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56
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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57
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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58
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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59
abdication
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| n.辞职；退位 | |
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60
sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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61
camaraderie
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| n.同志之爱，友情 | |
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62
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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