The Whites and the Blues (31 page)

THE WHITES AND THE BLUES

To-morrow the shooting of the traitors will begin, and Will be continued until no more traitors remain to be shot. We salute you fraternally. Long live the Eepublic.

The enemy still continued to advance; the rolling of drums, the blare of the trumpets, and from time to time, when the wind was favorable, the harmonious tones of music could be heard in the distance. But every sound was soon lost in the roar of the cannon; a storm of shot, thick as hail, fell upon the French ranks, the body of offi cers being especially singled out. Pichegru rose in his stirrups, and noticing a slight movement among the sol diers, shouted: "To your ranks!"

"To your ranks!" repeated the officers.

The lines reformed.

"Ground arms!" cried Pichegru.

Ten thousand muskets touched the earth at the same moment with admirable precision.

"Now," continued Saint-Just, "here is a communication from the Minister of War; it is addressed to me to be trans mitted to Generals Pichegru and Hoche:

CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVES —I have received this letter from citizen Dutheuil, junior. *' Toulon is in the hands of the Eepublic; the cowardice and perfidy of its enemies is complete. The artillery has served splendidly; we owe the victory to it alone. There is not a soldier who has not been a hero; the officers set the men the example. I cannot find words to praise Colonel Bonaparte sufficiently. Great knowl edge of military science, keen intelligence, too great a ten dency to expose himself—these form a feeble summary of the rare virtues of this rare officer. It is for you, minister, to retain him for the glory of the Eepublic."

I have appointed Colonel Bonaparte a brigadier-general, and beg you to direct Generals Hoche and Pichegru to place his name upon the order of the day of the Army of the Rhine. I will show the like honor to the brave man whose name they send me, who shall have been the first to cross the lines at Weissembourg.

"You hear, citizens," said Pichegru, "Colonel Bona parte's name is on the order of the day. Let each one re-

tarn to his post and repeat this name to the soldiers. Now that the English are beaten, down with the Prussians and the Austrians! Forward! Long live the Eepublic!' 1

The name of Bonaparte, which had sprung so gloriously into prominence, ran from rank to rank; an immense shout of "Long live the Eepublic!" burst from forty thousand throats; the drums beat the charge, the trumpets sounded, the bands played the "Marseillaise," and the whole army, so long restrained, dashed upon the enemy.

CHAPTEE XXXIV

Ji CHAPTER WHICH IS BUT ONE WITH THE FOLLOWING

CHAPTER

THE object of the campaign, to recapture the lines of Weissembourg, had been accomplished; the enemy had been driven from France in the North and in the South, at Toulon and at Landau, in the space of ten days. The soldiers were therefore enabled to enjoy a much needed rest; besides they had found stores of cloth, shoes, food and forage at Guermesheim, at Kaiserlauten, and at Landau; a single store at Kaiserlautern having supplied them with one thousand woollen comforters. The time had therefore come for Pichegru to keep his promises.

Esteve's accounts had been rendered, and the twenty-five thousand francs, deposited to the credit of the battalion of the Indre with the general, had been increased by twelve hundred, the price of the two cannon which the battalion had captured. This sum of twenty-six thousand two hun dred francs was enormous, for it was all in gold; and the gold louis at that time was worth seven hundred and twelve francs in paper money.

The general sent for Faraud and the two soldiers who had accompanied him each time that he had come as am bassador from the battalion. The three appeared, Faraud

THE WHITES AND THE BLUES

with his sergeant-major's stripes, and one of the others with corporal's stripes, which he had earned since his first inter view with the general.

"Here I am, general," said Faraud; "and here are my Iwo comrades, Corporal Groseiller and Comrade Vincent."

"You are all three welcome."

"You are very kind, general," said Faraud, with the 'Wist of the neck which was peculiar to him.

"You know that a sum of twenty-five thousand francs has been allotted for the widows and orphans of the dead of the battalion of the Indre."

"Yes, general," replied Faraud.

"To which sum the battalion has added another twelve hundred francs."

"Yes, general. And by the same token, it was an idiot named Faraud who was carrying it in his handkerchief and who let it fall for sheer joy on hearing that he had been made a sergeant-major."

"Will you give me your word that he will not do it again?"

"Word of a sergeant-major 1 not even if you should make him a colonel."

"We have not got as far as that yet."

"So much the worse, general."

"But still I am going to promote you/'

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Again?"

"I am going to make you paymaster."

4 k In place of citizen Esteve ?'' said Faraud, with his peculiar twist of the head. "Thanks, general, the place is a good one."

"No, not quite that," said Pichegru, smiling at the fraternal familiarity which makes the strength of the army, and which the Eevolution introduced into that of the Eepublic.

"Too bad," said Faraud.

"I appoint you paymaster in the department of the Indre •to the extent of twenty-six thousand and two hundred francs. In other words, I charge you and your two comrades, whose conduct has given me satisfaction, to divide the sum among the families whose names you will find there. 7 * And the general gave Faraud a list.

u Ah! general,' 7 said Faraud, "that is indeed a reward I What a pity that they have done away with the good Godl"

"Why so?"

"Because the prayers of these good folks would have taken us straight to heaven."

"Well," said Pichegru, u it is probable that when you are ready to go there, there will be a restoration. And now how will you go?"

"Where, general? 7 *

"To the Indre. There are a good many departments to cross before you get there.''

"On foot, general; that will take time, though. 77

"I wanted to hear you say that, brave hearts that you are! Here, this is the money for your expenses, nine hun dred francs in all—three hundred for each of you. 7 7

"We could go to the end of the world with that. 77

"But you must not stop at every tavern for a drink. 71

"We shall stop nowhere. 77

"Nowhere?"

"No. I shall take the Goddess of Eeason with me."

"Then we will have to add three hundred francs for the Goddess of Eeason. Here is a draft on citizen Est&ve.' 7

*' Thanks, general; and when must we start ? 7 7

"As soon as possible. 77

"To-day?"

"Well, go, my brave fellows; but at the first shot—"

"You will find us at our posts, general."

"Good, and now go tell them to send citizen Falou to me. 77

"He will be here in five minutes. 77

The three messengers bowed and went out. Five min-

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utes later, citizen Falou presented himself, wearing the gen eral's sword at his side with great dignity.

Since the general had seen him his face had undergone a change. A gash, beginning at the ear and extending to his upper lip, had cut open his right cheek; the flesh was held in place by strips of plaster.

"Ah!" said Pichegru, "it looks as if your defence had come rather late."

1 ' That's not it, general,'' replied Falou; * * but they were three to my one; and before I had time to kill the other two, the third had given me this razor-cut. It's nothing; it would be healed already if we had had any wind. Unfor tunately the weather is damp."

"Well, upon my honor, I am not sorry that it has hap pened to you.''

"Thanks, general; a fine scar like that does not harm a chasseur's face."

"That was not what I meant."

"What then?"

"It will give me an excuse to send you away."

"Say, general, no jokes; it is not a final dismissal?"

"No, a fortnight's furlough."

"What for?"

"To go and see Mother Falou."

"Ah, yes, the poor old woman; that's so."

"Have you not your back-pay to carry her?"

"Ah! general, you have no idea of the quantity of brandy compresses that I had to put on this wound I It is like a mouth, it drinks and drinks, you have no idea how much."

"In other words your pay is almost gone ?"

"Worse than my sword was when you were good enough to give me this one."

"Then I will do for your pay what I did for your sword.''

"Will you give me more?"

"Ohl the Prince de Conde" will pay the piper!"

''Gold! Ah, what a pity that the poor old mother can-see it again; it would remind her of the times when

;re was plenty of gold!"

''She will see enough to sew the new quartermaster's npes on your coat, which the Prussians have already ewed on your face."

4 ' Quartermaster, general ? Am I a quartermaster ?''

"That is the rank which they have put upon your leave of absence.''

"Faith, yes; there it is, every letter of itl" said Falou.

"Get ready to start."

"To-day?' 1

"To-day."

"On foot or on horseback ?"

"In a carriage."

"In a carriage? Am I to go in a carriage?"

"A post-chaise."

"Like the king's dogs when they go to the hunt! And may I know why I am to have this honor?"

"My secretary, Charles, who is going to Besangon, will ^ake you with him, and will bring you back again."

"General," said Falou, bringing his heels together and saluting, "it only remains for me to thank you."

Pichegru acknowledged the salute with a wave of his hand and a nod. Falou turned upon his heel and went out.

"Charles! Charles!" called Pichegru.

A door opened, and Charles, who was in an adjoining room, hurried in. "Here I am, general," he said.

"Do you know where Abatucci is?"

"With us, general. He is doing the account that you asked for."

"Will he have it finished before long?"

"It is finished, general," said Abatucci, appearing with the paper in his hand.

Charles was about to go away, but the general caught him by the wrist. "Wait," said he, "I wish to speak to you." Then he said to Abatucci, "How many flags?"

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' * Five, general."

11 Cannons?"

4 'Twenty-eight/'

"Prisoner*? 11

"Three thousand."

44 How many of the enemy killed?"

"Fully seven thousand."

"How many did we lose ?"

"Scarcely twenty-five hundred."

"You will go to Paris with the rank of colonel, which I shall ask the government to confirm. You will present the five flags to the Convention in the names of General Hoche and myself, and you will take with you the report that General Hoche is preparing. Esteve will give you a thousand francs to cover your expenses. My choice of you to carry the captured flags to the Convention, as well as the rank I have just bestowed upon you, proves my esteem for your courage and ability. If you see your cousin Bona parte remind him of the fact that I was his tutor at Brienne.''

Abatucci pressed the hand which the general held out to him, saluted, and retired.

"And now we are by ourselves, little Charles!" said Pichegru.

CHAPTER XXXV

IN WHICH ABATUCCI FULFILS THE MISSION THAT HE

HAS RECEIVED FROM HIS GENERAL, AND CHARLES

THAT WHICH HE RECEIVED FROM GOD

PICHEGRU glanced around the room to make sure that they were alone, and then, lowering his voice, he said: "Charles, my dear child, you have made a sacred promise in the sight of heaven which you must keep. If there is in this world a promise which should be kept inviolate above all others, it is one that has been made to a dying man. I have told you that I would give you the

means to fulfil it, and I now keep my word. You still have the count's foraging-cap?" Charles unbuttoned his coat and showed the general the cap.

"Good! I shall send you to Besan9on with Falou. You will go with him to the little village of Boussieres, and will give the burgomaster the money intended for his mother; and, as I do not wish that any one should think that this is pillage money, which they certainly would if her son gave it to her himself, I desire that the burgomaster shall hand it to her himself. A letter from me will moreover remain in the village, bearing witness to our new quartermaster's courage. I give you and Falou eight days' leave from the time you reach Besangon; you will doubtless want to show your new uniform.''

"And will you give me nothing for my father?'*

"A letter when you are ready to start."

Just then Leblanc announced that dinner was ready.

On entering the dining-room the general cast an anxious glance at the table; it was full, and more than full, Pichegru having invited Desaix to dine with him. The latter had brought with him one of his friends who was in Pichegru'a army, and whom he had made his aide-de-camp, Rene' Sa-vary, the same who had written. Faraud's certificate upon his corporal's stripes. The dinner was as lively as usual, all the officers of the staff being present; only two or three were wounded and those very slightly. After dinner they mounted their horses, and the general, with his entire staff, visited the outposts.

When they returned to the town, the general dismounted and told Charles to do the same; and, giving the two horses to the chasseur in attendance, he told Charles to accompany him to the streets where the shops were located.

"Charles, my boy," he said, "in addition to the official and secret missions with which you are charged, I should like to give you a special one. Will you accept it ?''

"Gladly, general," said Charles, clinging to Pichegru's arm. "Wliatisit?"

THE WHITES AND THE BLUES

"I don't know yet. I have a friend at Besangon named Eose; she lives in the Eue Collombier, No. 7. ''