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！
bayonet。 But do not be alarmed； dear Eva； it is nothingonly a
scratch。〃
〃Woundedagain woundedalas！〃 cried Blanche； clasping her hands
together； and interrupting her sister。
〃Take courage！〃 said Dagobert： 〃I dare say it was only a scratch； as the
general calls it。 Formerly； he used to call wounds； which did not
disable a man from fighting； blank wounds。 There was no one like him for
such sayings。〃
〃Djalma； seeing me wounded；〃 resumed Rose； wiping her eyes； 〃made use of
his heavy carbine as a club； and drove back the soldiers。 At that
instant； I perceived a new assailant； who； sheltered behind a clump of
bamboos which commanded the ravine； slowly lowered his long gun； placed
the barrel between two branches； and took deliberate aim at Djalma。
Before my shouts could apprise him of his danger； the brave youth had
received a ball in his breast。 Feeling himself hit； he fell bark
involuntarily two paces； and dropped upon one knee： but he still remained
firm； endeavoring to cover me with his body。 You may conceive my rage
and despair； whilst all my efforts to disengage myself were paralyzed by
the excruciating pain in my thigh。 Powerless and disarmed； I witnessed
for some moments this unequal struggle。
〃Djalma was losing blood rapidly； his strength of arm began to fail him；
already one of the irregulars； inciting his comrades with his voice； drew
from his belt a huge； heavy kind of bill…hook； when a dozen of our
mountaineers made their appearance； borne towards the spot by the
irresistible current of the battle。 Djalma was rescued in his turn； I
was released； and； in a quarter of an hour； I was able to mount a horse。
The fortune of the day is ours； though with severe loss； but the fires of
the English camp are still visible； and to…morrow the conflict will be
decisive。 Thus； my beloved Eva； I owe my life to this youth。 Happily；
his wound occasions us no uneasiness； the ball only glanced along the
ribs in a slanting direction。〃
〃The brave boy might have said： 〃'A blank wound；' like the general；〃
observed Dagobert。
〃Now； my dear Eva；〃 continued Rose； 〃you must become acquainted； by means
of this narrative at least； with the intrepid Djalma。 He is but just
eighteen。 With one word； I will paint for you his noble and valiant
nature； it is a custom of this country to give surnames； and； when only
fifteen； he was called 'The Generous'by which was； of course； meant
generous in heart and mind。 By another custom； no less touching than
whimsical； this name was reverted to his parent； who is called 'The
Father of the Generous；' and who might； with equal propriety； be called
'The Just；' for this old Indian is a rare example of chivalrous honor and
proud independence。 He might； like so many other poor princes of this
country； have humbled himself before the execrable despotism of the
English； bargained for the relinquishment of sovereign power； and
submitted to brute forcebut it was not in his nature。 'My whole
rights； or a grave in my native mountains！'such is his motto。 And this
is no empty boast； it springs from the conviction of what is right and
just。 'But you will be crushed in the struggle；' I have said to him'My
friend；' he answered； 'what if； to force you to a disgraceful act； you
were told to yield or die？'From that day I understood him； and have
devoted myself； mind and body； to the ever sacred cause of the weak
against the strong。 You see； my Eva； that Djalma shows himself worthy of
such a father。 This young Indian is so proud； so heroic in his bravery；
that； like a young Greek of Leonidas' age； he fights with his breast
bare； while other warriors of his country （who； indeed； usually have
arms； breast； and shoulders uncovered） wear； in time of battle； a thick；
impenetrable vest。 The rash daring of this youth reminds me of Murat；
King of Naples； who； I have so often told you； I have seen a hundred
times leading the most desperate charges with nothing but a riding…whip
in his hand。〃
〃That's another of those kings I was telling you of； whom the Emperor set
up for his amusement；〃 said Dagobert。 〃I once saw a Prussian officer
prisoner； whose face had been cut across by that mad…cap King of Naples'
riding…whip； the mark was there； a black and blue stripe。 The Prussian
swore he was dishonored； and that a sabre…cut would have been preferable。
I should rather think so！ That devil of a king； he only had one idea：
'Forward； on to the cannon！' As soon as they began to cannonade； one
would have thought the guns were calling him with all their might； for he
was soon up to them with his 'Here I am！' If I speak to you about him；
my children； it's because he was fond of repeating；'No one can break
through a square of infantry； if General Simon or I can't do it。'〃
Rose continued：
〃I have observed with pain； that； notwithstanding his youth； Djalma is
often subject to fits of deep melancholy。 At times； I have seen him
exchange with his father looks of singular import。 In spite of our
mutual attachment； I believe that both conceal from me some sad family
secret； in so far as I can judge from expressions which have dropped from
them by chance。
〃It relates to some strange event which their vivid imaginations have
invested with a supernatural character。
〃And yet； my love； you and I have no longer the right to smile at the
credulity of others。 I； since the French campaign； when I met with that
extraordinary adventure； which； to this day； I am quite unable to
understand〃
〃This refers to the man who threw himself before the mouth of the
cannon；〃 said Dagobert。
〃And you；〃 continued the maiden； still reading； 〃you； my dear Eva； since
the visits of that young and beautiful woman； whom； as your mother
asserted； she had seen at her mother's house forty years before。〃
The orphans； in amazement； looked at the soldier。
〃Your mother never spoke to me of that； nor the general either； my
children； this is as strange to me as it is to you。〃
With increasing excitement and curiosity； Rose continued：
〃After all； my dear Eva； things which appear very extraordinary； may
often be explained by a chance resemblance or a freak of nature。 Marvels
being always the result of optical illusion or heated fancy； a time must
come； when that which appeared to be superhuman or supernatural； will
prove to be the most simple and natural event in the world。 I doubt not；
therefore； that the things； which we denominate our prodigies； will one
day receive this commonplace solution。〃
〃You see； my childrenthings appear marvelous； which at bottom are quite
simplethough for a long time we understand nothing about them。〃
〃As our father relates this； we must believe it； and not be astonished
eh； sister？〃
〃Yes； trulysince it will all be explained one day。〃
〃For example；〃 said Dagobert； after a moment's reflection； 〃you two are
so much alike； that any one； who was not in the habit of seeing you
daily； might easily take one for the other。 Well！ if they did not know
that you are； so to speak；'doubles；' they might think an imp was at work
instead of such good little angels as you are。〃
〃You are right； Dagobert； in this way many thin