CHAPTER XXIII
MARC DIVES'S MISSION
On the rock of the Falkenstein, high up in the clouds, stands a tower,somewhat sunken at its base. This tower, overgrown with brambles,hawthorn, and bilberries, is as old as the mountain; neither theFrench, Germans, nor Swedes have destroyed it. The stone and cementare so solidly combined that not even a fragment can be detached fromit. It looks gloomy and mysterious, carrying one back to ancienttimes, beyond the memory of man.
At that time of the year when the wild-geese migrated in flocks, MarcDives, when he had nothing better to do, used to await them hidden inthe tower, and sometimes at nightfall, when the flocks came through thefogs flying in large circles before resting, he would bring down two orthree, much to the satisfaction of Hexe-Baizel, who was always verywilling to put them on a spit. Often, too, in the autumn, Marc laidtraps in the bushes, where he caught thrushes. The old tower alsoserved him as a wood-house.
Dives, perceiving that his wood, covered with snow and soaked by rain,gave more smoke than light, had covered in the old tower with a roof ofplanks. With reference to this occasion, the smuggler related acurious story. He pretended that, on laying the rafters, he haddiscovered, at the bottom of a fissure, a snow-white owl, blind andfeeble: but supplied with quantities of bats and field-mice. Hetherefore called it the "grandmother of the country," as he supposedthat all the birds came to feed it on account of its extreme old age.
Toward the close of the day, the partisans posted round the rock sawthe white uniforms appearing in the neighboring gorges. They poured inon all sides in large numbers, thereby clearly showing theirdetermination to blockade the Falkenstein. Perceiving this, Marc Divesbecame more thoughtful. "If they surround us," said he, "we shall notbe able to procure food, and shall have to surrender or die of hunger."
The enemy's staff on horseback could be clearly distinguished, haltinground the fountain of the village of Charmes. There also stood a tallchief with a large paunch, who was contemplating the rock through atelescope. Behind him was Yegof, whom from time to time he turnedround to question. The women and children formed a circle beyond them,apparently highly delighted, and five or six Cossacks pranced about.The smuggler could not contain himself any longer, and, taking Hullinaside, "Look," said he, "at that long line of shakos gliding along theSarre, and at the others who are scaling the valley on this side likehares; they are 'kaiserlichs,' aren't they? Well, what are they goingto do, Jean-Claude?"
"They are going to surround the mountain, that is clear. How many arethere, dost thou think?"
"From three to four thousand men, without counting those who arewalking over the country. Well, what can Piorette do against this packof vagabonds with three hundred men? I ask thee frankly, Hullin."
"He can do nothing," replied the worthy man, simply. "The Germans knowthat our ammunition is on the Falkenstein; they dread an insurrectionafter they enter Lorraine, and wish to insure their rear. The enemy'sgeneral knows that we cannot be taken by mere force, he is deciding toreduce us by hunger. All that is true, Marc; but we are men: we willdo our duty--we will die here!"
There was a short silence; Marc Dives frowned, and did not seem at allconvinced.
"We will die!" he replied, scratching his head. "I do not see why weshould die at all; it is not our intention to die: too many peoplewould be gratified by it."
"What wouldst thou do?" said Hullin, dryly. "Wouldst thou surrender?"
"Surrender!" exclaimed the smuggler. "Dost thou take me for a coward?"
"Then explain thyself."
"This evening I start for Phalsbourg. I risk my skin in crossing theenemy's lines; but I like that better than folding my arms here, andperishing with hunger. I will enter the town on the first 'sortie,' orI will endeavor to climb one of the gates. The commandant, Meunier,knows me. I have sold him tobacco for three years. Like thyself, hehas gone through the campaigns of Italy and Egypt. Well, I willexplain everything to him. I shall see Gaspard Lefevre. I will soarrange that they will give us, perhaps, a company. Dost thou see,Jean-Claude, that the uniform alone would save us? All the brave menwho remain will join Piorette; and in any case we shall be delivered,That is my idea. What dost thou think of it?"
He looked at Hullin, whose gloomy, fixed expression made him uneasy.
"Dost thou not think that a chance?"
"It is an idea," said Jean-Claude at last. "I do not oppose it." And,looking full in the smuggler's face, "Swear to me to do thy best toenter the town."
"I will swear nothing," replied Marc, whose brown cheeks were coveredwith a flush. "I leave all my possessions here, my wife, my comrades,Catherine Lefevre, and thee, my oldest friend! If I do not return, Ishall be a traitor; but if I return, Jean-Claude, thou shalt explainwhat thou meanest by thy demand: we will settle this little affairbetween us."
"Marc," said Hullin, "forgive me! I have suffered much these lastdays. I was wrong. Misfortune makes one distrustful. Give me thyhand. Go! Save us, save Catherine, save my child! I say so now: ouronly resource is in thee."
Hullin's voice faltered. Dives relented; but he rejoined: "All thesame, Hullin, thou shouldst not have said that to me at such a time.Never let us speak of it again. I will leave my skin on the way, orreturn to deliver you. This evening, when darkness sets in, I willleave. The 'kaiserlichs' surround the mountain already; but no matter,I have a good horse, and, besides, I have always been lucky."
By six o'clock the highest peaks were hid in darkness. Hundreds offires, sparkling in the depths of the gorges, announced that theGermans were preparing their repasts.
Marc Dives felt his way down the narrow path. Hullin listened for afew seconds to the retreating steps of his comrade, then walkedanxiously toward the old tower, where their head-quarters wereestablished. He lifted the thick woollen covering which closed theowl's-nest, and perceived Catherine, Louise, and the others crouchinground a small fire. The old farm-mistress sat on an oak log, her handsclasped round her knees, watching the flames fixedly, with compressedlips. Louise leant dreamily against the wall. Jerome stood behindCatherine, his hands crossed on his stick, his otter-skin cap touchingthe mouldy roof. All were sad and discouraged. Hexe-Baizel, who waslifting the lid of a kettle, and Doctor Lorquin, who was scratching thesofter parts of the old wall with the point of his sabre, alonepreserved their usual expression.
"Here we are," said the doctor, "returned to the days of the Triboques.These walls are more than two thousand years old. A great deal ofwater must have flowed from the heights of the Falkenstein and Grosmannto the Sarre and Rhine since a fire was last kindled in this tower."
"Yes," replied Catherine, as though awaking from a dream; "and manybesides ourselves have suffered cold, hunger, and misery here. Whoknew of it? No one. And one, or two, or three hundred years hence,others, perhaps, will again come for shelter to this place. They willfind, as we have, the wall cold, and the earth damp; they will make afire; they will look as we look; and they will say, like us, 'Whosuffered here before ourselves? Why did they suffer? They must havebeen pursued and hunted, like ourselves, to be obliged to come and hidein this wretched hole.' And they will think of past times; and no onewill reply."
Jean-Claude came up to them. The old dame, raising her head, andlooking at him, said, "Well! we are blockaded; the enemy wants tosubdue us by famine."
"True, Catherine," replied Hullin; "but I did not expect that. I feltcertain of a sudden attack; but the 'kaiserlichs' have not gained allyet. Dives has just left for Phalsbourg. He knows the commandant ofthe place; and if they will only send a few hundred men to our help----"
"Do not count on that," interrupted the old woman. "Marc may be takenor killed by the Germans: and, if not, and suppose he manages to crosstheir lines, how will he be able to enter Phalsbourg? You well knowthat the town is besieged by the Russians."
Then everybody relapsed into silence. Hexe-Baizel brought up the soup,and they sat in a circle round the smoking bowl.
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