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of them I could have swept all these cut…throats of the face of the earth。
My eager eyes filled with tears as I looked at the corner of the camp where
I knew that there were eight hundred men； any one of whom would have
died for his colonel。 But my sadness vanished when I saw beyond the
tents the plumes of smoke which marked the headquarters at Torres Novas。
There was Massena； and； please God； at the cost of my life his mission
would that night be done。 A spasm of pride and exultation filled my
breast。 I should have liked to have had a voice of thunder that I might
call to them； 〃Behold it is I； Etienne Gerard； who will die in order to save
the army of Clausel！〃 It was； indeed； sad to think that so noble a deed
should be done； and that no one should be there to tell the tale。
〃Now；〃 said the brigand chief； 〃you see the camp and you see also the
road which leads to Coimbra。 It is crowded with your fourgons and your
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ambulances。 Does this mean that Massena is about to retreat？〃
One could see the dark moving lines of waggons with an occasional
flash of steel from the escort。 There could； apart from my promise； be no
indiscretion in admitting that which was already obvious。
〃He will retreat；〃 said I。
〃By Coimbra？〃
〃I believe so。〃
〃But the army of Clausel？〃
I shrugged my shoulders。
〃Every path to the south is blocked。 No message can reach them。 If
Massena falls back the army of Clausel is doomed。〃
〃It must take its chance；〃 said I。
〃How many men has he？〃
〃I should say about fourteen thousand。〃
〃How much cavalry？〃
〃One brigade of Montbrun's Division。〃
〃What regiments？〃
〃The 4th Chasseurs； the 9th Hussars； and a regiment of Cuirassiers。〃
〃Quite right；〃 said he； looking at his note…book。 〃I can tell you speak
the truth； and Heaven help you if you don't。〃 Then； division by division；
he went over the whole army； asking the composition of each brigade。
Need I tell you that I would have had my tongue torn out before I
would have told him such things had I not a greater end in view？ I would
let him know all if I could but save the army of Clausel。
At last he closed his note…book and replaced it in his pocket。 〃I am
obliged to you for this information； which shall reach Lord Wellington to…
morrow；〃 said he。
〃You have done your share of the bargain； it is for me now to perform
mine。 How would you wish to die？ As a soldier you would； no doubt；
prefer to be shot； but some think that a jump over the Merodal precipice is
really an easier death。 A good few have taken it； but we were；
unfortunately； never able to get an opinion from them afterward。 There is
the saw； too； which does not appear to be popular。 We could hang you；
no doubt； but it would involve the inconvenience of going down to the
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wood。 However； a promise is a promise； and you seem to be an excellent
fellow； so we will spare no pains to meet your wishes。〃
〃You said；〃 I answered； 〃that I must die before midnight。
I will choose； therefore； just one minute before that hour。〃
〃Very good；〃 said he。 〃Such clinging to life is rather childish； but
your wishes shall be met。〃
〃As to the method；〃 I added； 〃I love a death which all the world can
see。 Put me on yonder pile of fagots and burn me alive； as saints and
martyrs have been burned before me。 That is no common end； but one
which an Emperor might envy。〃
The idea seemed to amuse him very much。 〃Why not？〃 said he。 〃If
Massena has sent you to spy upon us； he may guess what the fire upon the
mountain means。〃
〃Exactly；〃 said I。 〃You have hit upon my very reason。 He will
guess； and all will know； that I have died a soldier's death。〃
〃I see no objection whatever；〃 said the brigand； with his abominable
smile。 〃I will send some goat's flesh and wine into your hut。 The sun is
sinking and it is nearly eight o'clock。 In four hours be ready for your
end。〃
It was a beautiful world to be leaving。 I looked at the golden haze
below； where the last rays of the sinking sun shone upon the blue waters of
the winding Tagus and gleamed upon the white sails of the English
transports。
Very beautiful it was； and very sad to leave； but there are things more
beautiful than that。 The death that is died for the sake of others； honour；
and duty； and loyalty； and lovethese are the beauties far brighter than any
which the eye can see。 My breast was filled with admiration for my own
most noble conduct； and with wonder whether any soul would ever come
to know how I had placed myself in the heart of the beacon which saved
the army of Clausel。 I hoped so and I prayed so； for what a consolation it
would be to my mother； what an example to the army； what a pride to my
Hussars！ When de Pombal came at last into my hut with the food and the
wine； the first request I made him was that he would write an account of
my death and send it to the French camp。
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He answered not a word； but I ate my supper with a better appetite
from the thought that my glorious fate would not be altogether unknown。
I had been there about two hours when the door opened again； and the
chief stood looking in。 I was in darkness； but a brigand with a torch
stood beside him； and I saw his eyes and his teeth gleaming as he peered at
me。
〃Ready？〃 he asked。
〃It is not yet time。〃
〃You stand out for the last minute？〃
〃A promise is a promise。〃
〃Very good。 Be it so。 We have a little justice to do among ourselves；
for one of my fellows has been misbehaving。
We have a strict rule of our own which is no respecter of persons； as de
Pombal here could tell you。
Do you truss him and lay him on the faggots； de Pombal； and I will
return to see him die。〃
De Pombal and the man with the torch entered； while I heard the steps
of the chief passing away。 De Pombal closed the door。
〃Colonel Gerard；〃 said he； 〃you mus