CHAPTER XXII
ON THE FALKENSTEIN
At the end of the valley of Bouleaux, two gun-shots from the village ofCharmes, to the left, the little troop began slowly to ascend the pathto the old "burg." Hullin, remembering how he had taken the same roadwhen he went to buy powder of Marc Dives, could not help feeling verysad. Then, notwithstanding his journey to Phalsbourg, the spectacle ofthe wounded from Leipzig and Hanau, and the account given by the oldsergeant, he did not despair or doubt of the success of the defence.Now all was lost; the enemy were descending into Lorraine, and themountaineers were retreating. Marc Dives rode by the side of the wallin the snow; his horse, apparently accustomed to this journey, neighedloudly. The smuggler turned from time to time to look back on theplateau of Bois-de-Chenes. Suddenly he exclaimed, "Look! here come theCossacks!"
They all halted to look. They were already high up on the mountain,above the village and farm of Bois-de-Chenes. The morning mists weregiving way to the gray light of the winter's day, and, on the hill-sidecould be distinguished the forms of several Cossacks, with their headsraised, and pistols pointed, stealthily approaching the old farm-house.They were scattered after the manner of sharpshooters, as if theyfeared a surprise. A few minutes later more appeared, ascending thevalley of Houx, then still more, all in the same attitude, upright intheir stirrups, in order to see as far as possible. The first, havingpassed by the farm and observing nothing threatening, waved theirlances and returned half way back. Whereupon the others galloped up atfull speed like a flock of crows when they have sighted their prey. Ina few minutes the farm was surrounded and the door opened. In anothermoment the windows were smashed, and the furniture, mattresses, andlinen, thrown outside. Catherine calmly looked on at the pillage. Shesaid nothing for some time; but, on seeing Yegof, whom she had notperceived before, strike Duchene with the butt-end of his lance, andpush him out of the farm, she could not restrain a cry of indignation.
"The wretch! Could any one be cowardly enough to strike a poor old manunable to defend himself. Ah! brigand, if I only held thee!"
"Come along, Catherine," said Jean-Claude; "that's enough; what is theuse of gazing at such a spectacle any longer?"
"You are right," said the old mistress; "let us go on, or I shall betempted to go back and revenge myself."
On approaching the red rocks, incrusted with large white and blackpebbles, overhanging the precipice like the arches of an immensecathedral, Louise and Catherine stopped in ecstasy. The magnificentview of the streams of Lorraine, and the blue ribbon of the Rhine totheir right, with the distant woods and valleys, filled them with joy,and the old dame said piously, "Jean-Claude, He who created theserocks, and formed these valleys, forests, heaths, and mosses, He willrender to us the justice we merit."
As they were gazing thus on the rugged precipices, Marc led his horseinto a cavern close by, and, returning, began to climb up before them,saying, "Take care, or you may slip!"
At the same time he pointed to the blue precipice on their right, withpine-trees at the bottom. Everybody then relapsed into silence tillthe terrace was reached, where the arch commenced. There they breathedmore freely. In the middle of the passage were the smugglers Brenn,Pfeifer, and Joubac, with their long gray mantles and black hats,sitting round a fire. Marc Dives said to them, "Here we are! The'kaiserlichs' are masters. Zimmer was killed last night. IsHexe-Baizel up there?"
"Yes," replied Brenn; "she is making cartridges."
"They may be of use," said Marc. "Keep your eyes open, and if any comeup fire on them."
The Maternes halted at the corner of the rock; and these three sturdymen, with their powerful muscular limbs, their hats pushed back, andcarbines on their shoulders, offered a curious spectacle in the bluemists of the abyss. Old Materne was pointing with outstretched hand toa small white speck in the distance, almost hidden in the midst of thepines. "Do you recognize that, my boys?" said he; and they all threepeered through their half-closed eyes.
"It is our house," replied Kasper.
"Poor Margredel!" rejoined the old hunter, after a short pause; "howuneasy she must have been these last eight days? What prayers does shenot offer up for us to Saint-Odile?"
At that moment Marc Dives, who was walking on in front, uttered anexclamation of surprise.
"Mother Lefevre," said he, stopping short, "the Cossacks are burningyour farm."
Catherine received the tidings very calmly, and advanced to the edge ofthe terrace, Louise and Jean-Claude following. At the bottom of theabyss was a great white cloud, through which could be seen a brightspark, as it were, on the side of Bois-de-Chenes--that was all; but atintervals, when the wind blew strong, the flames shot up, the two highblack gables, the hay-loft, the small stables burned brightly, then alldisappeared once more.
"It is nearly finished," said Hullin, in a low voice.
"Yes," replied Catherine; "there are the labor and trouble of fortyyears vanishing in smoke; but they cannot burn my good land, nor thegreat meadow of Eichmath. We will begin our work over again. Gaspardand Louise will repair it all. I regret nothing I have done."
A quarter of an hour later thousands of sparks arose, and the buildingcrumbled to the ground. The black gables alone remained standing.They continued to ascend the path. As they were ascending the higherterrace, they heard the sharp voice of Hexe-Baizel.
"Is it thou, Catherine?" she cried. "Ah, I never thought thou wouldsthave come to see me in my wretched hole."
Baizel and Catherine Lefevre had been at school together in formerdays, therefore they used the third person when speaking.
"Nor I neither," replied the old farm-mistress. "All the same,Baizel--one is glad to find in misfortune an old companion of one'schildhood."
Baizel seemed touched by her words.
"All that is here, Catherine, is thine," she exclaimed; "everything!"
She pointed to her miserable stool, the furze broom, and the five orsix fagots on the hearth. Catherine looked on a few moments insilence, and then said: "It is not grand, but it is solid; at least,they will not be able to burn down thy house."
"No, they will not burn it," said Hexe-Baizel, laughing; "they wouldneed all the wood of the province of Dabo even to warm it a little.Ha! ha! ha!"
After so many fatigues, the partisans stood in need of repose. Theyall placed their guns against the wall, and lay down on the ground tosleep, Marc Dives having opened the second cavern to them, where theyat least were sheltered. Marc then went out with Hullin to examinetheir position.