CHAPTER LXXII.
THE EXPEDITION.
Henri, full of joy, hastened to Diana and Romy.
"Get ready; in a quarter of an hour we set out," said he. "You will findtwo horses saddled at the door of the little wooden staircase leading tothis corridor: join my suite and say nothing."
Then, going out on the balcony, he cried:
"Trumpet of the gendarmes, sound the call."
The call was quickly heard, and all the gendarmes ranged themselvesround the house.
"Gendarmes," said Henri, "my brother has given me, for the time, thecommand of your company, and has ordered me to set out to-night toobtain provisions and information as to the movements of the enemy, andone hundred of you are to accompany me; the mission is dangerous, butnecessary for the safety of all. Who are willing to go?" The whole threehundred offered themselves.
"Gentlemen," said Henri, "I thank you all; you have rightly been calledthe example to the army, but I can but take one hundred; and as I do notwish to choose, let chance decide. Monsieur," continued he, to theensign, "draw lots, if you please."
While this was being done, Joyeuse gave his last instructions to hisbrother.
"Listen, Henri," said he; "the country is drying, and there is acommunication between Courteig and Rupelmonde; you will march between ariver and a stream--the Scheldt and the Rupel. I trust that there willbe no necessity for you to go as far as Rupelmonde to find provisions.My men took three peasants prisoners; I give one of them to you for aguide--but no false pity! at the least appearance of treason shoot himwithout mercy."
He then tenderly embraced his brother, and gave the order for departure.The one hundred men drawn by lots were ready, and the guide was placedbetween two, with pistols in their hands, while Remy and his companionmixed with the rest. Henri gave no directions about them, thinking thatcuriosity was already quite sufficiently aroused about them, withoutaugmenting it by precautions more dangerous than salutary. He himselfdid not stay by them, but rode at the head of his company. Their marchwas slow, for often the ground nearly gave way under them, and they sankin the mud. Sometimes figures were seen flying over the plain; they werepeasants who had been rather too quick in returning to their homes, andwho fled at the sight of the enemy. Sometimes, however, they wereunlucky Frenchmen, half dead with cold and hunger, and who in theiruncertainty of meeting with friends or enemies, preferred waiting fordaylight to continue their painful journey.
They traversed two leagues in three hours, which brought the adventurousband to the banks of the Rupel, along which a stony road ran; but heredanger succeeded to difficulty, and two or three horses lost theirfooting on the slimy stones, and rolled with their riders into the stillrapid waters of the river. More than once also, from some boat on theopposite bank, shots were fired, and one man was killed at Diana's side.She manifested regret for the man, but no fear for herself. Henri, inthese different circumstances, showed himself to be a worthy captain andtrue friend; he rode first, telling all the men to follow in his steps,trusting less to his own sagacity than to that of the horse his brotherhad given him. Three leagues from Rupelmonde the gendarmes came upon sixFrench soldiers sitting by a turf fire; the unfortunates were cookingsome horse-flesh, the only food they had had for two days. The approachof the gendarmes caused great trouble among the guests at this sadfeast; two or three rose to fly, but the others stopped them, saying,"If they are enemies they can but kill us, and all will be over."
"France! France!" cried Henri.
On recognizing their countrymen they ran to them, and were given cloaksto wrap round them and something to drink, and were allowed to mount encroup behind the valets, and in this manner they accompanied thedetachment. Half a league further on they met four men of the 4th LightHorse, with, however, only one horse between them; they were alsowelcomed. At last they arrived on the banks of the Scheldt; the nightwas dark, and the gendarmes found two men who were trying, in badFlemish, to obtain from a boatman a passage to the other side, which herefused. The ensign, who understood Dutch, advanced softly, and heardthe boatman say, "You are French, and shall die here; you shall notcross."
"It is you who shall die, if you do not take us over at once," repliedone of the men, drawing his dagger.
"Keep firm, monsieur," cried the ensign, "we will come to your aid."
But as the two men turned at these words, the boatman loosened the rope,and pushed rapidly from the shore. One of the gendarmes, however,knowing how useful this boat would be, went into the stream on his horseand fired at the boatman, who fell. The boat was left without a guide,but the current brought it back again toward the bank. The two strangersseized it at once and got in. This astonished the ensign.
"Gentlemen," said he, "who are you, if you please?"
"Gentlemen, we are marine officers, and you are gendarmes of Aunis,apparently."
"Yes, gentlemen, and very happy to have served you; will you notaccompany us?"
"Willingly."
"Get into the wagons, then, if you are too tired to ride."
"May we ask where are you going?" said one.
"Monsieur, our orders are to push on to Rupelmonde."
"Take care," answered he. "We did not pass the stream sooner, becausethis morning a detachment of Spaniards passed, coming from Antwerp. Atsunset we thought we might venture, for two men inspire no disquietude;but you, a whole troop--"
"It is true; I will call our chief."
Henri approached, and asked what was the matter.
"These gentlemen met this morning a detachment of Spaniards followingthe same road as ourselves."
"How many were they?"
"About fifty."
"And does that stop you?"
"No, but I think it would be well to secure the boat, in case we shouldwish to pass the stream; it will hold twenty men."
"Good! let us keep the boat. There should be some houses at the junctionof the Scheldt and Rupel?"
"There is a village," said a voice.
"Then let two men descend the stream with the boat, while we go alongthe bank."
"We will bring the boat if you will let us," said one of the officers.
"If you wish it, gentlemen; but do not lose sight of us, and come to usin the village."
"But if we abandon the boat some one will take it?"
"You will find ten men waiting, to whom you can deliver it."
"It is well," said one, and they pushed off from the shore.
"It is singular," said Henri, "but I fancy I know that voice."
An hour after they arrived at the village, which was occupied by thefifty Spaniards, but they, taken by surprise when they least expectedit, made little resistance. Henri had them disarmed and shut up in thestrongest house in the village, and left ten men to guard them. Ten morewere sent to guard the boat, and ten others placed as sentinels, withthe promise of being relieved in an hour. Twenty of the others then satdown in the house opposite to that in which the prisoners were, to thesupper which had been prepared for them. Henri chose a separate room forRemy and Diana; he then placed the ensign at table with the others,telling him to invite the two naval officers when they arrived. He nextwent out to look for accommodation for the rest of the men, and when hereturned in half-an-hour he found them waiting supper for him. Some hadfallen asleep on their chairs, but his entrance roused them. The table,covered with cheese, pork, and bread, with a pot of beer by each man,looked almost tempting. Henri sat down and told them to begin.
"Apropos!" said he, "have the strangers arrived?"
"Yes, there they are at the end of the table."
Henri looked and saw them in the darkest corner of the room.
"Gentlemen," said he, "you are badly placed, and I think you are noteating."
"Thanks, M. le Comte," said one, "we are very tired, and more in need ofrest than food; we told your officers so, but they insisted, saying thatit was your orders that we should sup with you. We feel the honor, butif, nevertheless, instead of keeping us longer you would giv
e us aroom--"
"Is that also the wish of your companion?" said Henri, and he looked atthis companion, whose hat was pushed down over his eyes, and who had notyet spoken.
"Yes, comte," replied he, in a scarcely audible voice.
Henri rose, walked straight to the end of the table, while every onewatched his movements and astonished look.
"Monsieur," said he, to the one who had spoken first, "do me a favor?"
"What is it, M. le Comte?"
"Tell me if you are not Aurilly's brother, or Aurilly himself?"
"Aurilly!" cried all.
"And let your companion," continued Henri, "raise his hat a little andlet me see his face, or else I shall call him monseigneur, and bowbefore him." And as he spoke he bowed respectfully, hat in hand. Theofficer took off his hat.
"Monseigneur le Duc d'Anjou!" cried all. "The duke, living!"
"Ma foi, gentlemen," replied he, "since you will recognize yourconquered and fugitive prince, I shall not deny myself to you anylonger. I am the Duc d'Anjou."
"Vive, monseigneur!" cried all.