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now haunted。 But the day was beginning to break； and our fatigue
was too extreme for visionary terrors。 The second or third； we
alighted on a barren heath about midnight； built a fire to warm us
under the shelter of some thorns； supped like beggars on bread and
a piece of cold bacon； and slept like gipsies with our feet to the
fire。 In the meanwhile； King was gone with the cart； I know not
where； to get a change of horses； and it was late in the dark
morning when he returned and we were able to resume our journey。
In the middle of another night； we came to a stop by an ancient；
whitewashed cottage of two stories； a privet hedge surrounded it；
the frosty moon shone blankly on the upper windows； but through
those of the kitchen the firelight was seen glinting on the roof
and reflected from the dishes on the wall。 Here； after much
hammering on the door； King managed to arouse an old crone from the
chimney…corner chair； where she had been dozing in the watch； and
we were had in； and entertained with a dish of hot tea。 This old
lady was an aunt of Burchell Fenn's … and an unwilling partner in
his dangerous trade。 Though the house stood solitary； and the hour
was an unlikely one for any passenger upon the road； King and she
conversed in whispers only。 There was something dismal； something
of the sick…room； in this perpetual； guarded sibilation。 The
apprehensions of our hostess insensibly communicated themselves to
every one present。 We ate like mice in a cat's ear； if one of us
jingled a teaspoon； all would start； and when the hour came to take
the road again； we drew a long breath of relief； and climbed to our
places in the covered cart with a positive sense of escape。 The
most of our meals； however； were taken boldly at hedgerow
alehouses； usually at untimely hours of the day； when the clients
were in the field or the farmyard at labour。 I shall have to tell
presently of our last experience of the sort； and how unfortunately
it miscarried； but as that was the signal for my separation from my
fellow…travellers； I must first finish with them。
I had never any occasion to waver in my first judgment of the
Colonel。 The old gentleman seemed to me； and still seems in the
retrospect； the salt of the earth。 I had occasion to see him in
the extremes of hardship； hunger and cold； he was dying； and he
looked it； and yet I cannot remember any hasty； harsh； or impatient
word to have fallen from his lips。 On the contrary； he ever showed
himself careful to please； and even if he rambled in his talk；
rambled always gently … like a humane； half…witted old hero； true
to his colours to the last。 I would not dare to say how often he
awoke suddenly from a lethargy； and told us again； as though we had
never heard it； the story of how he had earned the cross； how it
had been given him by the hand of the Emperor； and of the innocent
… and； indeed； foolish … sayings of his daughter when he returned
with it on his bosom。 He had another anecdote which he was very
apt to give； by way of a rebuke； when the Major wearied us beyond
endurance with dispraises of the English。 This was an account of
the BRAVES GENS with whom he had been boarding。 True enough； he
was a man so simple and grateful by nature； that the most common
civilities were able to touch him to the heart； and would remain
written in his memory； but from a thousand inconsiderable but
conclusive indications； I gathered that this family had really
loved him； and loaded him with kindness。 They made a fire in his
bedroom； which the sons and daughters tended with their own hands；
letters from France were looked for with scarce more eagerness by
himself than by these alien sympathisers； when they came； he would
read them aloud in the parlour to the assembled family； translating
as he went。 The Colonel's English was elementary； his daughter not
in the least likely to be an amusing correspondent； and； as I
conceived these scenes in the parlour； I felt sure the interest
centred in the Colonel himself； and I thought I could feel in my
own heart that mixture of the ridiculous and the pathetic； the
contest of tears and laughter； which must have shaken the bosoms of
the family。 Their kindness had continued till the end。 It appears
they were privy to his flight； the camlet cloak had been lined
expressly for him； and he was the bearer of a letter from the
daughter of the house to his own daughter in Paris。 The last
evening； when the time came to say good…night； it was tacitly known
to all that they were to look upon his face no more。 He rose；
pleading fatigue； and turned to the daughter； who had been his
chief ally： 'You will permit me； my dear … to an old and very
unhappy soldier … and may God bless you for your goodness！' The
girl threw her arms about his neck and sobbed upon his bosom； the
lady of the house burst into tears； 'ET JE VOUS LE JURE； LE PERE SE
MOUCHAIT！' quoth the Colonel； twisting his moustaches with a
cavalry air； and at the same time blinking the water from his eyes
at the mere recollection。
It was a good thought to me that he had found these friends in
captivity； that he had started on this fatal journey from so
cordial a farewell。 He had broken his parole for his daughter：
that he should ever live to reach her sick…bed； that he could
continue to endure to an end the hardships； the crushing fatigue；
the savage cold； of our pilgrimage； I had early ceased to hope。 I
did for him what I was able； … nursed him； kept him covered；
watched over his slumbers； sometimes held him in my arms at the
rough places of the road。 'Champdivers；' he once said； 'you are
like a son to me … like a son。' It is good to remember； though at
the time it put me on the rack。 All was to no purpose。 Fast as we
were travelling towards France； he was travelling faster still to
another destination。 Daily he grew weaker and more indifferent。
An old rustic accent of Lower Normandy reappeared in his speech；
from which it had long been banished； and grew stronger； old words
of the PATOIS； too： OUISTREHAM； MATRASSE； and others； the sense of
which we were sometimes unable to guess。 On the very last day he
began again his eternal story of the cross and the Emperor。 The
Major； who was particularly ill； or at least particularly cross；
uttered some angry words of protest。 'PARDONNEZ…MOI； MONSIEUR LE
COMMANDANT； MAIS C'EST POUR MONSIEUR；' said the Colonel： 'Monsieur
has not yet heard the circumstance； and is good enough to feel an
interest。' Presently after； however； he began to lose the thread
of his narrative； and at last： 'QUE QUE J'AI？ JE M'EMBROUILLE！'
says he； 'SUFFIT： S'M'A LA DONNE； ET BERTHE EN ETAIT BIEN
CONTENTE。' It struck me as the falling of the curtain or the
closing of the sepulchre doors。
Sure enough； in but a little while after； he fell into a sleep as
gentle as an infant's； which insensibly changed into the sleep of
death。 I had my arm about his body at the time and remarked
nothing； unless it were that he once stretched himself a little； so
kindly the end came to that disastrous life。 It was only at our
evening halt that the Major and I discovered we were travelling
alone with the poor clay。 That night we stole a spade from a field
… I think near Market Bosworth … and a little farther on； in a wood
of young oak trees and by the light of King's lantern； we buried
the old soldier of the Empire with both prayers and tears。
We had needs invent Heaven if it had not been revealed to us； there
are some things that fall so bitterly ill on this side Time！ As
for the Major； I have long since forgiven him。 He broke the news
to the poor Colonel's daughter； I am told he did it kindly； and
sure； nobody could have done it without tears！ His share of
purgatory will be brief； and in this world； as I could not very
well praise him； I have suppressed his name。 The Colonel's also；
for the sake of his parole。 REQUIESCAT。
CHAPTER XV … THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK
I HAVE mentioned our usual course； which was to eat in
inconsiderable wayside hostelries； known to King。 It was a
dangerous business； we went daily under fire to satisfy our
appetite； and put our head in the loin's mouth for a piece of
bread。 Sometimes； to minimise the risk； we would all dismount
before we came in view of the house； straggle in severally； and
give what orders we pleased； like disconnected strangers。 In like
manner we departed； to find the cart at an appointed place； some
half a mile beyond。 The Colonel and the Major had each a word or
two of English … God help their pronunciation！ But they did well
enough to order a rasher and a pot or call a reckoning； and； to say
truth； these country folks did not give themselves the pains； and
had scarce the kno