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took his place behind me and began to row。
A good soldier in an enemy's country should everywhere and at all
times be on the alert。 It has been one of the rules of my life； and if I have
lived to wear grey hairs it is because I have observed it。 And yet upon
that night I was as careless as a foolish young recruit who fears lest he
should be thought to be afraid。 My pistols I had left behind in my hurry。
My sword was at my belt； but it is not always the most convenient of
weapons。 I lay back in my seat in the gondola； lulled by the gentle swish
of the water and the steady creaking of the oar。 Our way lay through a
network of narrow canals with high houses towering on either side and a
thin slit of star…spangled sky above us。 Here and there； on the bridges
which spanned the canal； there was the dim glimmer of an oil lamp； and
sometimes there came a gleam from some niche where a candle burned
before the image of a saint。 But save for this it was all black； and one
could only see the water by the white fringe which curled round the long
black nose of our boat。 It was a place and a time for dreaming。 I
thought of my own past life； of all the great deeds in which I had been
concerned； of the horses that I had handled； and of the women that I had
loved。 Then I thought also of my dear mother； and I fancied her joy
when she heard the folk in the village talking about the fame of her son。
Of the Emperor also I thought； and of France； the dear fatherland； the
sunny France； mother of beautiful daughters and of gallant sons。 My
heart glowed within me as I thought of how we had brought her colours so
many hundred leagues beyond her borders。 To her greatness I would
dedicate my life。 I placed my hand upon my heart as I swore it； and at
that instant the gondolier fell upon me from behind。
When I say that he fell upon me I do not mean merely that he attacked
me； but that he really did tumble upon me with all his weight。 The
fellow stands behind you and above you as he rows； so that you can
neither see him nor can you in any way guard against such an assault。
One moment I had sat with my mind filled with sublime resolutions；
the next I was flattened out upon the bottom of the boat； the breath dashed
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out of my body； and this monster pinning me down。 I felt the fierce pants
of his hot breath upon the back of my neck。 In an instant he had torn
away my sword； had slipped a sack over my head； and had tied a rope
firmly round the outside of it。
There I was at the bottom of the gondola as helpless as a trussed fowl。
I could not shout； I could not move； I was a mere bundle。 An instant later
I heard once more the swishing of the water and the creaking of the oar。
This fellow had done his work and had resumed his journey as quietly
and unconcernedly as if he were accustomed to clap a sack over a colonel
of Hussars every day of the week。
I cannot tell you the humiliation and also the fury which filled my
mind as I lay there like a helpless sheep being carried to the butcher's。 I；
Etienne Gerard； the champion of the six brigades of light cavalry and the
first swordsman of the Grand Army； to be overpowered by a single
unarmed man in such a fashion！ Yet I lay quiet； for there is a time to
resist and there is a time to save one's strength。 I had felt the fellow's
grip upon my arms； and I knew that I would be a child in his hands。 I
waited quietly； therefore； with a heart which burned with rage； until my
opportunity should come。
How long I lay there at the bottom of the boat I can not tell； but it
seemed to me to be a long time； and always there were the hiss of the
waters and the steady creaking of the oar。 Several times we turned
corners； for I heard the long； sad cry which these gondoliers give when
they wish to warn their fellows that they are coming。 At last； after a
considerable journey； I felt the side of the boat scrape up against a landing…
place。 The fellow knocked three times with his oar upon wood； and in
answer to his summons I heard the rasping of bars and the turning of keys。
A great door creaked back upon its hinges。
〃Have you got him？〃 asked a voice； in Italian。
My monster gave a laugh and kicked the sack in which I lay。
〃Here he is；〃 said he。
〃They are waiting。〃 He added something which I could not
understand。
〃Take him； then；〃 said my captor。 He raised me in his arms； ascended
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THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
some steps； and I was thrown down upon a hard floor。 A moment later
the bars creaked and the key whined once more。 I was a prisoner inside a
house。
From the voices and the steps there seemed now to be several people
round me。 I understand Italian a great deal better than I speak it； and I
could make out very well what they were saying。
〃You have not killed him； Matteo？〃
〃What matter if I have？〃
〃My faith； you will have to answer for it to the tribunal。〃
〃They will kill him； will they not？〃
〃Yes； but it is not for you or me to take it out of their hands。〃
〃Tut！ I have not killed him。 Dead men do not bite； and his cursed
teeth met in my thumb as I pulled the sack over his head。〃
〃He lies very quiet。〃
〃Tumble him out and you will find that he is lively enough。〃
The cord which bound me was undone and the sack drawn from over
my head。 With my eyes closed I lay motionless upon the floor。
〃By the saints； Matteo； I tell you that you have broken his neck。〃
〃Not I。 He has only fainted。 The better for him if he never came
out of it again。〃
I felt a hand within my tunic。
〃Matteo is right；〃 said a voice。 〃His heart beats like a hammer。 Let
him lie and he will soon find his senses。〃