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when our attention was called away from the battle beneath our noses to a
distant portion of the field of action。
The Emperor had been looking through his glass to the extreme left of
the English line； and now he turned suddenly to the Duke of Dalmatia； or
Soult； as we soldiers preferred to call him。
〃What is it； Marshal？〃 said he。
We all followed the direction of his gaze； some raising our glasses；
some shading our eyes。 There was a thick wood over yonder； then a long；
bare slope； and another wood beyond。 Over this bare strip between the
two woods there lay something dark； like the shadow of a moving cloud。
〃I think that they are cattle； Sire；〃 said Soult。
At that instant there came a quick twinkle from amid the dark shadow。
〃It is Grouchy；〃 said the Emperor； and he lowered his glass。 〃They
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are doubly lost； these English。 I hold them in the hollow of my hand。
They cannot escape me。〃
He looked round； and his eyes fell upon me。
〃Ah！ here is the prince of messengers；〃 said he。 〃Are you well
mounted； Colonel Gerard？〃
I was riding my little Violette； the pride of the brigade。
I said so。
〃Then ride hard to Marshal Grouchy； whose troops you see over
yonder。 Tell him that he is to fall upon the left flank and rear of the
English while I attack them in front。 Together we should crush them and
not a man escape。〃
I saluted and rode off without a word； my heart dancing with joy that
such a mission should be mine。 I looked at that long； solid line of red
and blue looming through the smoke of the guns； and I shook my fist at it
as I went。 〃We shall crush them and not a man escape。〃
They were the Emperor's words； and it was I； Etienne Gerard； who was
to turn them into deeds。 I burned to reach the Marshal； and for an instant
I thought of riding through the English left wing； as being the shortest cut。
I have done bolder deeds and come out safely； but I reflected that if things
went badly with me and I was taken or shot the message would be lost and
the plans of the Emperor miscarry。 I passed in front of the cavalry；
therefore； past the Chasseurs； the Lancers of the Guard； the Carabineers；
the Horse Grenadiers； and； lastly； my own little rascals； who followed me
wistfully with their eyes。 Beyond the cavalry the Old Guard was
standing； twelve regiments of them； all veterans of many battles； sombre
and severe； in long blue overcoats and high bearskins from which the
plumes had been removed。 Each bore within the goatskin knapsack upon
his back the blue and white parade uniform which they would use for their
entry into Brussels next day。 As I rode past them I reflected that these
men had never been beaten； and as I looked at their weather…beaten faces
and their stern and silent bearing； I said to myself that they never would be
beaten。 Great heavens； how little could I foresee what a few more hours
would bring！
On the right of the Old Guard were the Young Guard and the 6th Corps
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of Lobau； and then I passed Jacquinot's Lancers and Marbot's Hussars；
who held the extreme flank of the line。 All these troops knew nothing of
the corps which was coming toward them through the wood； and their
attention was taken up in watching the battle which raged upon their left。
More than a hundred guns were thundering from each side； and the din
was so great that of all the battles which I have fought I cannot recall more
than half…a…dozen which were as noisy。 I looked back over my shoulder；
and there were two brigades of Cuirassiers； English and French； pouring
down the hill together； with the sword…blades playing over them like
summer lightning。 How I longed to turn Violette； and to lead my Hussars
into the thick of it！ What a picture！ Etienne Gerard with his back to the
battle； and a fine cavalry action raging behind him。
But duty is duty； so I rode past Marbot's vedettes and on in the
direction of the wood； passing the village of Frishermont upon my left。
In front of me lay the great wood； called the Wood of Paris； consisting
mostly of oak trees； with a few narrow paths leading through it。 I halted
and listened when I reached it； but out of its gloomy depths there came no
blare of trumpet； no murmur of wheels； no tramp of horses to mark the
advance of that great column which； with my own eyes； I had seen
streaming toward it。 The battle roared behind me； but in front all was as
silent as that grave in which so many brave men would shortly sleep。
The sunlight was cut off by the arches of leaves above my head； and a
heavy damp smell rose from the sodden ground。 For several miles I
galloped at such a pace as few riders would care to go with roots below
and branches above。 Then； at last； for the first time I caught a glimpse of
Grouchy's advance guard。 Scattered parties of Hussars passed me on
either side； but some distance of； among the trees。 I heard the beating of
a drum far away； and the low； dull murmur which an army makes upon the
march。 Any moment I might come upon the staff and deliver my
message to Grouchy in person； for I knew well that on such a march a
Marshal of France would certainly ride with the van of his army。
Suddenly the trees thinned in front of me； and I understood with
delight that I was coming to the end of the wood？ whence I could see the
army and find the Marshal。
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Where the track comes out from amid the trees there is a small cabaret；
where wood…cutters and waggoners drink their wine。 Outside the door of
this I reined up my horse for an instant while I took in the scene which
was before me。 Some few miles away I saw a second great forest； that of
St。 Lambert； out of which the Emperor had seen the troops advancing。 It
was easy to s