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intersected by vineyards。 A range of hills lay beyond； with one well…
marked peak towering above them。 Round the base of these hills was a
broad belt of forest。 A single road ran white and clear； dipping and rising
until it passed through a gap in the hills。
〃This；〃 said Massena； pointing to the mountain； 〃is the Sierra de
Merodal。 Do you perceive anything upon the top？〃
I answered that I did not。
〃Now？〃 he asked； and he handed me his field…glass。
With its aid I perceived a small mound or cairn upon the crest。
〃What you see；〃 said the Marshal； 〃is a pile of logs which was placed
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there as a beacon。 We laid it when the country was in our hands； and
now； although we no longer hold it； the beacon remains undisturbed。
Gerard； that beacon must be lit to…night。 France needs it； the Emperor
needs it； the army needs it。 Two of your comrades have gone to light it；
but neither has made his way to the summit。 To…day it is your turn； and I
pray that you may have better luck。〃
It is not for a soldier to ask the reason for his orders； and so I was
about to hurry from the room； but the Marshal laid his hand upon my
shoulder and held me。
〃You shall know all； and so learn how high is the cause for which you
risk your life；〃 said he。 〃Fifty miles to the south of us； on the other side
of the Tagus； is the army of General Clausel。 His camp is situated near a
peak named the Sierra d'Ossa。 On the summit of this peak is a beacon；
and by this beacon he has a picket。 It is agreed between us that when at
midnight he shall see our signal…fire he shall light his own as an answer；
and shall then at once fall back upon the main army。 If he does not start
at once I must go without him。 For two days I have endeavoured to send
him his message。 It must reach him to…day； or his army will be left
behind and destroyed。〃
Ah； my friends； how my heart swelled when I heard how high was the
task which Fortune had assigned to me！
If my life were spared； here was one more splendid new leaf for my
laurel crown。 If； on the other hand； I died； then it would be a death
worthy of such a career。 I said nothing； but I cannot doubt that all the
noble thoughts that were in me shone in my face； for Massena took my
hand and wrung it。
〃There is the hill and there the beacon；〃 said he。
〃There is only this guerilla and his men between you and it。 I cannot
detach a large party for the enterprise and a small one would be seen and
destroyed。 Therefore to you alone I commit it。 Carry it out in your own
way； but at twelve o'clock this night let me see the fire upon the hill。〃
〃If it is not there；〃 said I； 〃then I pray you； Marshal Massena； to see
that my effects are sold and the money sent to my mother。〃 So I raised
my hand to my busby and turned upon my heel； my heart glowing at the
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thought of the great exploit which lay before me。
I sat in my own chamber for some little time considering how I had
best take the matter in hand。 The fact that neither Cortex nor Duplessis；
who were very zealous and active officers； had succeeded in reaching the
summit of the Sierra de Merodal； showed that the country was very
closely watched by the guerillas。 I reckoned out the distance upon a map。
There were ten miles of open country to be crossed before reaching the
hills。 Then came a belt of forest on the lower slopes of the mountain；
which may have been three or four miles wide。 And then there was the
actual peak itself； of no very great height； but without any cover to conceal
me。 Those were the three stages of my journey。
It seemed to me that once I had reached the shelter of the wood all
would be easy； for I could lie concealed within its shadows and climb
upward under the cover of night。
From eight till twelve would give me four hours of darkness in which
to make the ascent。 It was only the first stage； then； which I had
seriously to consider。
Over that flat country there lay the inviting white road； and I
remembered that my comrades had both taken their horses。 That was
clearly their ruin； for nothing could be easier than for the brigands to keep
watch upon the road； and to lay an ambush for all who passed along it。 It
would not be difficult for me to ride across country； and I was well horsed
at that time； for I had not only Violette and Rataplan； who were two of the
finest mounts in the army； but I had the splendid black English hunter
which I had taken from Sir Cotton。 However； after much thought； I
determined to go upon foot； since I should then be in a better state to take
advantage of any chance which might offer。 As to my dress； I covered
my Hussar uniform with a long cloak； and I put a grey forage cap upon my
head。 You may ask me why I did not dress as a peasant； but I answer that
a man of honour has no desire to die the death of a spy。 It is one thing to
be murdered； and it is another to be justly executed by the laws of war。 I
would not run the risk of such an end。
In the late afternoon I stole out of the camp and passed through the
line of our pickets。 Beneath my cloak I had a field…glass and a pocket
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pistol； as well as my sword。 In my pocket were tinder； flint； and steel。
For two or three miles I kept under cover of the vineyards； and made
such good progress that my heart was high within me； and I thought to
myself that it only needed a man of some brains to take the matter in hand
to bring it easily to success。 Of course； Cortex and Duplessis galloping
down the high…road would be easily seen； but the intelligent Gerard
lurking among the vines was quite another person。 I