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discussing the reports which came from the front。 I hurried past at the
top of my speed； but one of them rushed out and stood in my path with his
hand up as a signal to me to stop。 Five thousand Prussian eyes were
turned upon me。 There was a moment！ You turn pale； my friends； at
the thought of it。 Think how every hair upon me stood on end。 But
never for one instant did my wits or my courage desert me。 〃General
Blucher！〃 I cried。 Was it not my guardian angel who whispered the
words in my ear？ The Prussian sprang from my path； saluted； and
pointed forward。 They are well disciplined； these Prussians； and who
was he that he should dare to stop the officer who bore a message to the
general？
It was a talisman that would pass me out of every danger； and my heart
sang within me at the thought。 So elated was I that I no longer waited to
be asked； but as I rode through the army I shouted to right and left；
〃General Blucher！ General Blucher！〃 and every man pointed me
onward and cleared a path to let me pass。
There are times when the most supreme impudence is the highest
wisdom。 But discretion must also be used； and I must admit that I
became indiscreet。 For as I rode upon my way； ever nearer to the
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fighting line； a Prussian officer of Uhlans gripped my bridle and pointed to
a group of men who stood near a burning farm。 〃There is Marshal
Blucher。 Deliver your message！〃 said he； and sure enough； my terrible
old grey…whiskered veteran was there within a pistol…shot； his eyes turned
in my direction。
But the good guardian angel did not desert me。
Quick as a flash there came into my memory the name of the general
who commanded the advance of the Prussians。
｛illust。 caption = 〃There is Marshal Blucher。 Deliver your
message！〃｝
〃General Bulow！〃 I cried。 The Uhlan let go my bridle。 〃General
Bulow！ General Bulow！〃 I shouted； as every stride of the dear little mare
took me nearer my own people。 Through the burning village of
Planchenoit I galloped； spurred my way between two columns of Prussian
infantry； sprang over a hedge； cut down a Silesian Hussar who flung
himself before me； and an instant afterward； with my coat flying open to
show the uniform below； I passed through the open files of the tenth of the
line； and was back in the heart of Lobau's corps once more。
Outnumbered and outflanked； they were being slowly driven in by the
pressure of the Prussian advance。 I galloped onward； anxious only to
find myself by the Emperor's side。
But a sight lay before me which held me fast as though I had been
turned into some noble equestrian statue。 I could not move； I could
scarce breathe； as I gazed upon it。 There was a mound over which my
path lay； and as I came out on the top of it I looked down the long； shallow
valley of Waterloo。 I had left it with two great armies on either side and
a clear field between them。 Now there were but long； ragged fringes of
broken and exhausted regiments upon the two ridges； but a real army of
dead and wounded lay between。 For two miles in length and half a mile
across the ground was strewed and heaped with them。 But slaughter was
no new sight to me； and it was not that which held me spellbound。 It was
that up the long slope of the British position was moving a walking forest…
black； tossing； waving； unbroken。 Did I not know the bearskins of the
Guard？ And did I not also know； did not my soldier's instinct tell me；
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that it was the last reserve of France； that the Emperor； like a desperate
gamester； was staking all upon his last card？ Up they went and up
grand； solid； unbreakable； scourged with musketry； riddled with grape；
flowing onward in a black； heavy tide； which lapped over the British
batteries。 With my glass I could see the English gunners throw
themselves under their pieces or run to the rear。 On rolled the crest of the
bearskins； and then； with a crash which was swept across to my ears； they
met the British infantry。 A minute passed； and another； and another。
My heart was in my mouth。
They swayed back and forward； they no longer advanced； they were
held。 Great Heaven！ was it possible that they were breaking？ One
black dot ran down the hill； then two； then four； then ten； then a great；
scattered； struggling mass； halting； breaking； halting； and at last shredding
out and rushing madly downward。 〃The Guard is beaten！ The Guard is
beaten！〃 From all around me I heard the cry。 Along the whole line the
infantry turned their faces and the gunners flinched from their guns。
〃The Old Guard is beaten！ The Guard retreats！〃 An officer with a
livid face passed me yelling out these words of woe。 〃Save yourselves！
Save yourselves！ You are betrayed！〃 cried another。 〃Save yourselves！
Save yourselves！〃 Men were rushing madly to the rear； blundering and
jumping like frightened sheep。 Cries and screams rose from all around
me。 And at that moment； as I looked at the British position； I saw what I
can never forget。 A single horseman stood out black and clear upon the
ridge against the last red angry glow of the setting sun。 So dark； so
motionless； against that grim light； he might have been the very spirit of
Battle brooding over that terrible valley。 As I gazed； he raised his hat
high in the air； and at the signal； with a low； deep roar like a breaking
wave； the whole British army flooded over their ridge and came rolling
down into the valley。
Long steel…fringed lines of red and blue； sweeping waves of cavalry；
horse batteries ra