Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-13
The EXPLOITS
1afADlER GERARD.
Ely A. CONAN DOYLE.
opyright ISL. by Batcheliler, johnson 4
Bacheller.l

received at the bidding of the emperor
the cross for valor which l had, if
may be allowed to say so, so long de-
served. Here upon the lapel of my coat
you may see the ribbon, but the medal
itself keep in leathern pouch at home,
and l never venture to take it out IN
less one of the modern peace generals,
or some foreigner of distinction. who
finds himself in our little town, takes
advantage of the opportunity to pay his
respects to the well-known Brigadier
Gerard. Then l place it upon.my breast,
and give my mustache the old Maren-
go twist which brings gray point into
either eye. Yet with it all l fear
that neither they, nor You, either, my
friends, will ever realize the man that
/ was. You know me only as civil
ian-with an air and a manner it is true
but still merely as civilian. Had
you seen me as l stood in the doorway
of the inn at Alamo on the first day of
July in the year 1910 you would then
have known what the hussar may at
tain to.
For a month had fingered in that
accursed village, and all on account of
lance thrust in my ankle which made
it impossible for me to put my foot to
the ground. There We're three of us at
tirst-old Bouvet, of the hussars;
Jacques Regnier, of the cuirassiers,
and funny little voltigeur captain
whose name forget-but they all got
well and hurried on to the front, while
| sat gnawing my fingers and tearing
my hair, and even, as l must confess,
weeping from time to time as l thought
of my hussars and the deplorable condi-
ton in which they must find themselves
when deprived of their colonel. l was
not a brigadier yet, you understand,
although l already carried myself like
one. But 1 was the youngest colonel
in the whole service, and my regiment
was wife and children to me. 1t went
to my heart that they should be be-
reaved. 1t is true that Villaret, the
senior major, was an excellent soldier,
but still even among the best there are
degrees of merit.
All, that happy July day of which l
speak when first 1 limped to the door
and stood in the golden Spanish sun
shine! 1t was but the evening before
that had heard from the regiment.
They were at Pastores on the other
side of the mountains face to face with
the English-not forty miles from me
by road. But how was l to get to
them? The same thrust which had
pierced my ankle had slain my charger.
l took advice from Gomez, the landlord,
and from an old priest who had slept
that night in the inn, but neither of
them could do more than assure me that
there was not SO much as colt left
upon the whole country side. The
landlord would not hear of my cross
ing the mountains without an escort,
for he assured me that Ell Cuchillo, the
Spanish guerrilla chief, was out that
way with his band, and that it meant a
death by torture to fall into his hands.
The old priest observed, however, that
he did not think a French hussar
would be deferred by that, and if l
had had any doubts they would of
course have been decided by his re-
mark.
But a horse! How was to get one?
was standing in the doorway plotting
and planning when heard the clink of
shoes, and, looking up 1 saw great
bearded man with blue cloak froggcd
across in military fashion coming
towards me. He was riding a big
black horse with one white stocking on
his near forelcg.
at l.
up to me.
"Hullo." said he.
81 am Col. Gerard, of the hussars,"
said 1. 81 have lain here wounded for
month and I am now ready TO rejoin
my regiment at Pastores."
81 am NJ. Vidal, of the commissariat,"
he answered, land l am myself upon my
way to Pastores. I should be glad to
have your company, colonel, for hear
that the mountains are far from safe"
"Alas!" said I, Il have no horse. But
if you will sell me yours will promise
that an escort of hussars shall be sent
back for you"
He would not hear of it, and it was
in vain that the landlord told him
dreadful stories of the doings of FL
Cuchillo, and that 1 pointed out the
duty which he owed the army and to
the country. He would not even argue
but called loudly for cup of wine.
craftily asked him to dismount and to
drink with me, but he must have seen
something in my face, for he shook his
head, and then as l approached him
with some thought of seizlng him by
the leg he jerked his heels into his
horses tanks and was Off in a cloud of
dust,
My faith, it was enough to make a
man mad to see this fellow riding away
so gayly to join his beef barrels and his
brandy casks, and then to think of my
five hundred beautiful hussars without
their leader. l was gazing after him
with bitter thoughts in my mind when
who should touch me on the elbow but
the little priest whom have mentioned.
1T is l who can help you," said he, Il
am myself travelling south"
l put my arms about him and as nv
ankle frovn yyar OF ca,,,a