按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
。 This indefinable feeling can be understood only by those who have felt their hearts beat in the silence of the night from a painful expectation heightened by some noise； the monotonous recurrence of which seems to distil terror into their minds； drop by drop。
The thought of the commandant； as he returned to his men； was： 〃Can I be mistaken？〃 He glanced； with a concentrated anger which flashed like lightning from his eyes； at the stolid； immovable Chouan； a look of savage irony which he fancied he detected in the man's eyes； warned him not to relax in his precautions。 Just then Captain Merle； having obeyed Hulot's orders； returned to his side。
〃We did well； captain；〃 said the commandant； 〃to put the few men whose patriotism we can count upon among those conscripts at the rear。 Take a dozen more of our own bravest fellows； with sub…lieutenant Lebrun at their head； and make a rear…guard of them； they'll support the patriots who are there already； and help to shove on that flock of birds and close up the distance between us。 I'll wait for you。〃
The captain disappeared。 The commander's eye singled out four men on whose intelligence and quickness he knew he might rely； and he beckoned to them； silently； with the well…known friendly gesture of moving the right forefinger rapidly and repeatedly toward the nose。 They came to him。
〃You served with me under Hoche；〃 he said； 〃when we brought to reason those brigands who call themselves 'Chasseurs du Roi'； you know how they hid themselves to swoop down on the Blues。〃
At this commendation of their intelligence the four soldiers nodded with significant grins。 Their heroically martial faces wore that look of careless resignation to fate which evidenced the fact that since the struggle had begun between France and Europe； the ideas of the private soldiers had never passed beyond the cartridge…boxes on their backs or the bayonets in front of them。 With their lips drawn together like a purse when the strings are tightened； they looked at their commander attentively with inquiring eyes。
〃You know；〃 continued Hulot； who possessed the art of speaking picturesquely as soldier to soldiers； 〃that it won't do for old hares like us to be caught napping by the Chouans；of whom there are plenty all round us； or my name's not Hulot。 You four are to march in advance and beat up both sides of this road。 The detachment will hang fire here。 Keep your eyes about you； don't get picked off； and bring me news of what you findquick！〃
So saying he waved his hand towards the suspected heights along the road。 The four men； by way of thanks raised the backs of their hands to their battered old three…cornered hats； discolored by rain and ragged with age； and bent their bodies double。 One of them； named Larose； a corporal well…known to Hulot； remarked as he clicked his musket： 〃We'll play 'em a tune on the clarinet； commander。〃
They started； two to right and two to left of the road； and it was not without some excitement that their comrades watched them disappear。 The commandant himself feared that he had sent them to their deaths； and an involuntary shudder seized him as he saw the last of them。 Officers and soldiers listened to the gradually lessening sound of their footsteps； with feelings all the more acute because they were carefully hidden。 There are occasions when the risk of four lives causes more excitement and alarm than all the slain at Jemmapes。 The faces of those trained to war have such various and fugitive expressions that a painter who has to describe them is forced to appeal to the recollections of soldiers and to leave civilians to imagine these dramatic figures； for scenes so rich in detail cannot be rendered in writing； except at interminable length。
Just as the bayonets of the four men were finally lost to sight； Captain Merle returned； having executed the commandant's orders with rapidity。 Hulot； with two or three sharp commands； put his troop in line of battle and ordered it to return to the summit of La Pelerine where his little advanced…guard were stationed； walking last himself and looking backward to note any changes that might occur in a scene which Nature had made so lovely； and man so terrible。 As he reached the spot where he had left the Chouan； Marche…a…Terre； who had seen with apparent indifference the various movements of the commander； but who was now watching with extraordinary intelligence the two soldiers in the woods to the right； suddenly gave the shrill and piercing cry of the /chouette/； or screech…owl。 The three famous smugglers already mentioned were in the habit of using the various intonations of this cry to warn each other of danger or of any event that might concern them。 From this came the nickname of 〃Chuin〃 which means /chouette/ or owl in the dialect of that region。 This corrupted word came finally to mean the whole body of those who； in the first uprising； imitated the tactics and the signals of the smugglers。
When Hulot heard that suspicious sound he stopped short and examined the man intently； then he feigned to be taken in by his stupid air； wishing to keep him by him as a barometer which might indicate the movements of the enemy。 He therefore checked Gerard； whose hand was on his sword to despatch him； but he placed two soldiers beside the man he now felt to be a spy； and ordered them in a loud； clear voice to shoot him at the next sound he made。 In spite of his imminent danger Marche…a…Terre showed not the slightest emotion。 The commandant； who was studying him； took note of this apparent insensibility； and remarked to Gerard： 〃That fool is not so clever as he means to be！ It is far from easy to read the face of a Chouan； but the fellow betrays himself by his anxiety to show his nerve。 Ha！ ha！ if he had only pretended fear I should have taken him for a stupid brute。 He and I might have made a pair！ I came very near falling into the trap。 Yes； we shall undoubtedly be attacked； but let 'em come； I'm all ready now。〃
As he said these words in a low voice； rubbing his hands with an air of satisfaction； he looked at the Chouan with a jeering eye。 Then he crossed his arms on his breast and stood in the road with his favorite officers beside him awaiting the result of his arrangements。 Certain that a fight was at hand； he looked at his men composedly。
〃There'll be a row；〃 said Beau…Pied to his comrades in a low voice。 〃See； the commandant is rubbing his hands。〃
In critical situations like that in which the detachment and its commander were now placed； life is so clearly at stake that men of nerve make it a point of honor to show coolness and self…possession。 These are the moments in which to judge men's souls。 The commandant； better informed of the danger than his two officers； took pride in showing his tranquillity。 With his eyes moving from Marche…a…Terre to the road and thence to the woods he stood expecting； not without dread； a general volley from the Chouans； whom he believed to be hidden like brigands all around him； but his face remained impassible。 Knowing that the eyes of the soldiers were turned upon him； he wrinkled his brown cheeks pitted with the small…pox； screwed his upper lip； and winked his right eye； a grimace always