Emperor's¡¡own¡¡famous¡¡white¡¡charger¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡complete¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Already¡¡as¡¡I¡¡rode¡¡clear¡¡the¡¡Prussians¡¡were¡¡within¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡of¡¡
us¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡made¡¡a¡¡gesture¡¡of¡¡terror¡¡and¡¡despair¡¡with¡¡my¡¡hands£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡sprang¡¡
my¡¡horse¡¡over¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡which¡¡lined¡¡the¡¡road¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡enough¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡yell¡¡of¡¡
exultation¡¡and¡¡of¡¡furious¡¡hatred¡¡broke¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Prussians¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡howl¡¡of¡¡starving¡¡wolves¡¡who¡¡scent¡¡their¡¡prey¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡spurred¡¡my¡¡
horse¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡meadow¡land¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡under¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡arm¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡rode¡£¡¡
Oh£»¡¡the¡¡glorious¡¡moment¡¡when¡¡one¡¡after¡¡the¡¡other¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡eight¡¡horsemen¡¡
come¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡bank¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡heels£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Only¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡stayed¡¡¡¡¡¡behind£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
heard¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡shouting¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sounds¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡struggle¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡remembered¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡
sergeant¡¡of¡¡Chasseurs£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡number¡¡nine¡¡would¡¡trouble¡¡us¡¡
no¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡road¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡clear¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Emperor¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡free¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡continue¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
journey¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡now¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡I¡¡were¡¡overtaken¡¡the¡¡Prussians¡¡
would¡¡¡¡¡¡certainly¡¡¡¡¡¡make¡¡¡¡¡¡short¡¡¡¡¡¡work¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡disappointment¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡
were¡¡¡¡¡¡soif¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡lost¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡lifeI¡¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡sold¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡glorious¡¡¡¡¡¡price¡£¡¡
But¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡hopes¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡shake¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡off¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡¡¡¡¡ordinary¡¡¡¡horsemen¡¡
upon¡¡ordinary¡¡horses¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡had¡¡no¡¡difficulty¡¡in¡¡doing¡¡so£»¡¡but¡¡here¡¡
both¡¡¡¡¡¡steeds¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡riders¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡best¡£¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡grand¡¡¡¡¡¡creature¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
rode£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡weary¡¡with¡¡its¡¡long¡¡night's¡¡work£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Emperor¡¡was¡¡one¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡145¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡146¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡ADVENTURES¡¡OF¡¡GERARD¡¡
of¡¡those¡¡riders¡¡who¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡manage¡¡a¡¡horse¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡little¡¡
thought¡¡far¡¡them¡¡and¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡hand¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡mouths¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡
Stein¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men¡¡had¡¡come¡¡both¡¡far¡¡and¡¡fast¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡race¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡one¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡quick¡¡had¡¡been¡¡my¡¡impulse£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡rapidly¡¡had¡¡I¡¡acted¡¡upon¡¡it£»¡¡that¡¡
I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡thought¡¡enough¡¡of¡¡my¡¡own¡¡safety¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Had¡¡I¡¡done¡¡so¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡
instance¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡should£»¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡course£»¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡ridden¡¡¡¡¡¡straight¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
come£»¡¡for¡¡so¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡met¡¡our¡¡own¡¡people¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡was¡¡off¡¡the¡¡road¡¡
and¡¡had¡¡galloped¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡over¡¡the¡¡plain¡¡before¡¡this¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡
when¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Prussians¡¡had¡¡spread¡¡out¡¡into¡¡a¡¡long¡¡line£»¡¡
so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡head¡¡me¡¡off¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Charleroi¡¡road¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡turn¡¡back£»¡¡but¡¡
at¡¡least¡¡I¡¡could¡¡edge¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡north¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
country¡¡was¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡our¡¡flying¡¡troops£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡sooner¡¡or¡¡later¡¡I¡¡must¡¡
come¡¡upon¡¡some¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡I¡¡had¡¡forgottenthe¡¡Sambre¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡my¡¡excitement¡¡I¡¡never¡¡
gave¡¡it¡¡a¡¡thought¡¡until¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡it£»¡¡deep¡¡and¡¡broad£»¡¡gleaming¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡
sunlight¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡barred¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡path£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Prussians¡¡¡¡¡¡howled¡¡¡¡¡¡behind¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
galloped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡brink£»¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡horse¡¡refused¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡plunge¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡spurred¡¡him£»¡¡
but¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡was¡¡high¡¡and¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡deep¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡shrank¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡trembling¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡snorting¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡yells¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡triumph¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡
louder¡¡every¡¡instant¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡rode¡¡for¡¡my¡¡life¡¡down¡¡the¡¡river¡¡bank¡£¡¡
It¡¡formed¡¡a¡¡loop¡¡at¡¡this¡¡part£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡must¡¡get¡¡across¡¡somehow£»¡¡for¡¡my¡¡retreat¡¡
was¡¡blocked¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Suddenly¡¡a¡¡thrill¡¡of¡¡hope¡¡ran¡¡through¡¡me£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡house¡¡
on¡¡my¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡and¡¡another¡¡on¡¡the¡¡farther¡¡bank¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Where¡¡there¡¡
are¡¡two¡¡such¡¡houses¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡usually¡¡¡¡means¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡ford¡¡between¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡£¡¡
A¡¡¡¡sloping¡¡¡¡¡¡path¡¡¡¡¡¡led¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡brink¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡urged¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡horse¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡On¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
went£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡water¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡saddle£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡foam¡¡¡¡¡¡flying¡¡¡¡¡¡right¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡left¡£¡¡He¡¡
blundered¡¡once¡¡and¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡we¡¡were¡¡lost£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡recovered¡¡and¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡
later¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡clattering¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡farther¡¡¡¡¡¡slope¡£¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
splash¡¡behind¡¡me¡¡as¡¡the¡¡first¡¡Prussian¡¡took¡¡the¡¡water¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡just¡¡the¡¡
breadth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sambre¡¡between¡¡us¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡rode¡¡with¡¡my¡¡head¡¡sunk¡¡between¡¡my¡¡shoulders¡¡in¡¡Napoleon's¡¡fashion£»¡¡
and¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡look¡¡back¡¡for¡¡fear¡¡they¡¡should¡¡see¡¡my¡¡moustache¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
had¡¡turned¡¡up¡¡the¡¡collar¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grey¡¡coat¡¡so¡¡as¡¡partly¡¡to¡¡hide¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Even¡¡now¡¡
if¡¡they¡¡found¡¡out¡¡their¡¡mistake¡¡they¡¡might¡¡turn¡¡and¡¡overtake¡¡the¡¡carriage¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡146¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡147¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡ADVENTURES¡¡OF¡¡GERARD¡¡
But¡¡when¡¡once¡¡we¡¡were¡¡on¡¡the¡¡road¡¡I¡¡could¡¡tell¡¡by¡¡the¡¡drumming¡¡of¡¡their¡¡
hoofs¡¡how¡¡far¡¡distant¡¡they¡¡were£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡grew¡¡
perceptibly¡¡¡¡¡¡louder£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡slowly¡¡¡¡¡¡gaining¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡
riding¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡stony¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡rutted¡¡¡¡¡¡lane¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡led¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡ford¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡
peeped¡¡back¡¡very¡¡cautiously¡¡from¡¡under¡¡my¡¡arm¡¡and¡¡I¡¡perceived¡¡that¡¡my¡¡
danger¡¡came¡¡from¡¡a¡¡single¡¡rider£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡far¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡his¡¡comrades¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡Hussar£»¡¡a¡¡very¡¡tiny¡¡fellow£»¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡big¡¡black¡¡horse£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡
his¡¡light¡¡weight¡¡which¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡foremost¡¡place¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡
place¡¡of¡¡honour£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡is¡¡also¡¡a¡¡place¡¡of¡¡danger£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡soon¡¡to¡¡learn¡£¡¡
I¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡holsters£»¡¡but£»¡¡to¡¡my¡¡horror£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡pistols¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡
field¡glass¡¡in¡¡one¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡was¡¡stuffed¡¡with¡¡papers¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡sword¡¡had¡¡
been¡¡left¡¡behind¡¡with¡¡Violette¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Had¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡weapons¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡mare¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡
played¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡rascals¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡entirely¡¡¡¡¡¡unarmed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡
Emperor's¡¡own¡¡sword¡¡¡¡¡¡hung¡¡to¡¡the¡¡saddle¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡curved¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡short£»¡¡¡¡the¡¡
hilt¡¡all¡¡crusted¡¡with¡¡golda¡¡thing¡¡more¡¡fitted¡¡to¡¡glitter¡¡at¡¡a¡¡review¡¡than¡¡to¡¡
serve¡¡a¡¡soldier¡¡in¡¡his¡¡deadly¡¡need¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡drew¡¡it£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡waited¡¡
my¡¡chance¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Every¡¡instant¡¡the¡¡clink¡¡and¡¡clatter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hoofs¡¡grew¡¡nearer¡£¡¡
I¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡panting¡¡of¡¡the¡¡horse£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fellow¡¡shouted¡¡some¡¡threat¡¡at¡¡me¡£¡¡
There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡turn¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lane£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡I¡¡rounded¡¡it¡¡I¡¡drew¡¡up¡¡my¡¡white¡¡Arab¡¡
on¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡haunches¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡spun¡¡¡¡¡¡round¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡met¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Prussian¡¡¡¡¡¡Hussar¡¡¡¡¡¡face¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
face¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡going¡¡too¡¡fast¡¡to¡¡stop£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡only¡¡chance¡¡was¡¡to¡¡ride¡¡me¡¡
down¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Had¡¡he¡¡done¡¡so¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡met¡¡his¡¡own¡¡death£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡would¡¡
have¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡injured¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡horse¡¡¡¡¡¡past¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡hope¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡escape¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡fool¡¡
flinched¡¡as¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡me¡¡waiting¡¡and¡¡flew¡¡past¡¡me¡¡on¡¡my¡¡right¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡lunged¡¡
over¡¡my¡¡Arab's¡¡neck¡¡and¡¡buried¡¡my¡¡toy¡¡sword¡¡in¡¡his¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡must¡¡have¡¡
been¡¡the¡¡finest¡¡steel¡¡and¡¡as¡¡sharp¡¡as¡¡a¡¡razor£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡hardly¡¡felt¡¡it¡¡enter£»¡¡and¡¡
yet¡¡his¡¡blood¡¡was¡¡within¡¡three¡¡inches¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hilt¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡horse¡¡galloped¡¡on¡¡
and¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡his¡¡saddle¡¡for¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡before¡¡he¡¡sank¡¡down¡¡with¡¡his¡¡
face¡¡on¡¡the¡¡mane¡¡and¡¡then¡¡dived¡¡over¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡neck¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡road¡£¡¡
For¡¡my¡¡own¡¡part¡¡I¡¡was¡¡already¡¡at¡¡his¡¡horse's¡¡heels¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡few¡¡seconds¡¡had¡¡
sufficed¡¡for¡¡all¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡told¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡rage¡¡and¡¡vengeance¡¡which¡¡rose¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Prussians¡¡as¡¡
they¡¡passed¡¡their¡¡dead¡¡comrade£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡but¡¡smile¡¡as¡¡I¡¡wondered¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡147¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡148¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡ADVENTURES¡¡OF¡¡GERARD¡¡
what¡¡they¡¡could¡¡think¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Emperor¡¡as¡¡a¡¡horseman¡¡and¡¡a¡¡swordsman¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
glanced¡¡back¡¡cautiously¡¡as¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡none¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seven¡¡men¡¡
stopped¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡fate¡¡of¡¡their¡¡comrade¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡compared¡¡to¡¡the¡¡carrying¡¡
out¡¡of¡¡their¡¡mission¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡as¡¡untiring¡¡and¡¡as¡¡remorseless¡¡as¡¡bloodhounds¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡lead¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡brave¡¡¡¡¡¡Arab¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡going¡¡¡¡¡¡well¡£¡¡I¡¡
thought¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡safe¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡yet¡¡it¡¡was¡¡at¡¡that¡¡very¡¡instant¡¡that¡¡the¡¡most¡¡
terrible¡¡danger¡¡befell¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡lane¡¡divided£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡took¡¡the¡¡smaller¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
two¡¡divisions¡¡because¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡more¡¡grassy¡¡and¡¡the¡¡easier¡¡for¡¡the¡¡horse's¡¡
hoofs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Imagine¡¡my¡¡horror¡¡when£»¡¡riding¡¡through¡¡a¡¡gate£»¡¡I¡¡found¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡
a¡¡square¡¡of¡¡stables¡¡and¡¡farm¡buildings£»¡¡with¡¡no¡¡way¡¡out¡¡save¡¡that¡¡by¡¡which¡¡
I¡¡had¡¡come£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Ah£»¡¡my¡¡friends£»¡¡if¡¡my¡¡hair¡¡is¡¡snowy¡¡white£»¡¡have¡¡I¡¡not¡¡had¡¡
enough¡¡to¡¡make¡¡it¡¡so£¿¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡retreat¡¡was¡¡impossible¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡thunder¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Prussians'¡¡
hoofs¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡lane¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡round¡¡¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Nature¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡blessed¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡
that¡¡quick¡¡eye¡¡which¡¡is¡¡the¡¡first¡¡of¡¡gifts¡¡to¡¡any¡¡soldier£»¡¡but¡¡most¡¡of¡¡all¡¡to¡¡a¡¡
leader¡¡of¡¡cavalry¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Between¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡low¡¡line¡¡of¡¡stables¡¡and¡¡the¡¡farm¡house¡¡
there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡pig¡sty¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Its¡¡front¡¡was¡¡made¡¡of¡¡bars¡¡of¡¡wood¡¡four¡¡feet¡¡high£»¡¡
the¡¡back¡¡was¡¡of¡¡stone£»¡¡higher¡¡than¡¡the¡¡front¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡was¡¡beyond¡¡I¡¡could¡¡
not¡¡tell¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡space¡¡between¡¡the¡¡front¡¡and¡¡the¡¡back¡¡was¡¡not¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡
few¡¡¡¡¡¡yards¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡desperate¡¡¡¡¡¡venture£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡yet¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡take¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡Every¡¡
instant¡¡the¡¡beating¡¡of¡¡those¡¡hurrying¡¡hoofs¡¡was¡¡louder¡¡and¡¡louder¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡put¡¡
my¡¡Arab¡¡at¡¡the¡¡pig¡sty¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡cleared¡¡the¡¡front¡¡beautifully¡¡and¡¡came¡¡down¡¡
with¡¡her¡¡forefeet¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡sleeping¡¡pig¡¡within£»¡¡slipping¡¡forward¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡
knees¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡thrown¡¡over¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡beyond£»¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡
face¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡soft¡¡¡¡¡¡flower¡bed¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡¡¡¡¡horse¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡side¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wall£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
upon¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Prussians¡¡were¡¡pouring¡¡into¡¡the¡¡yard¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡was¡¡
up¡¡in¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡and¡¡had¡¡seized¡¡the¡¡bridle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plunging¡¡horse¡¡over¡¡the¡¡
top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wall¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡built¡¡of¡¡loose¡¡stones£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡dragged¡¡down¡¡a¡¡few¡¡of¡¡
them¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡make¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡gap¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡tugged¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bridle¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡shouted¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡gallant¡¡
creature¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡the¡¡leap£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡afterward¡¡she¡¡was¡¡by¡¡my¡¡side¡¡and¡¡I¡¡
with¡¡my¡¡foot¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stirrup¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡An¡¡¡¡¡¡heroi
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü