CHAPTER VIII
THE LEADER
The persons indicated by Jean-Claude Hullin met together in the shed ofthe Sawyerie, before the great fireplace; a species of good-humorbeaming on their faces.
"For twenty years have I heard speak of the Russians, Austrians, andCossacks," said old Materne, smiling, "and I shall not be sorry to seea few within reach of my musket: it gives a change to one's ideas."
"Yes," replied Labarbe, "we shall see queer things; the little childrenof the mountains will be able to relate something of what their fathersand grandfathers did! And the old women, of an evening--won't theytell long tales in fifty years' time?"
"Comrades," said Hullin, "you know the whole country: you have themountain under your eyes from Thann to Wissembourg. You know that thegreat roads, imperial roads--traverse Alsace and the Vosges. They bothcommence at Bale: one runs along the Rhine to Strasbourg, from whenceit ascends to Saverne and enters Lorraine. Huningue, Neuf-Brisach,Strasbourg, and Phalsbourg defend it. The other turns to the left andpasses by Schlestadt: at Schlestadt it enters the mountain and reachesSaint-Die, Raon-l'Etape, Baccarat, and Luneville. The enemy will wantto force these two roads first,--being the best for cavalry, artillery,and baggage,--but as they are defended, we need not trouble ourselvesabout them. If the allies besiege the fortresses--which would lengthenthe campaign--we have nothing to fear; but it is not probable they willdo so. After having summoned Huningue to surrender, Belfort,Schlestadt, Strasbourg, and Phalsbourg, on this side theVosges--Bitsche, Lutzelstein, and Sarrebrueck on the other--I imaginethey will fall upon us. Now attend to me. Between Phalsbourg andSaint-Die, there are several defiles for the infantry; but there isonly one way practicable for cannon: this is the road from Strasbourgto Raon-les-Leaux by Urmatt, Mutzig, Lutzelhouse, Phramond,Grandfontaine. Once masters of this passage, the allies will be ableto come out on Lorraine. This road passes the Donon, two leagues fromhere, on our right The first thing to be done is to make a firm standthere, in the most favorable part for defence, that is to say, on theplateau of the mountain; to intersect it, to break down the bridges,and to erect solid breastworks across it. A few hundreds of greattrees across the road with all their branches are worth as much asramparts. They are the best ambuscades: one is well sheltered behindthem and can see everything coming. Those large trees hold like death.They must be taken away piece by piece; bridges cannot be thrown overthem:--in fact it is the best thing to be done. All that, comrades,must be accomplished to-morrow evening, or next day at the latest. Icharge myself with it. But it is not sufficient to occupy a positionand put it in a good state of defence: it must be so managed that theenemy shall not be able to turn it."
"I was just thinking of that," said Materne. "Once in the valley ofBruche, the Germans can march with their infantry into the hills ofHaslack and turn our left. Nothing can prevent their trying the samemanoeuvre on our right, if they reach Raon-l'Etape."
"Yes, but to take these ideas out of their heads, we have a very simplething to do: it is to occupy the defiles of the Zorn and the Sarre onour left, and that of Blanru on our right. One can only keep a defileby holding the heights; that is why Piorette must place himself with ahundred men on the side of Raon-les-Leaux; Jerome on the Grosmann, withthe same number, to close the valley of the Sarre; and Labarbe, at thehead of the remainder on the great slopes to watch over the hills ofHaslach. You must choose your men from those of the nearest villages.The women ought not to have a long distance to carry provisions; andthen the wounded will be nearer their homes, which must also be thoughtof. There is all I have to say to you just now. The chiefs of postsmust take care to send me every day on the Donon, where I shallestablish our head-quarters this evening, a good walker, to inform meof what happens, and to receive the countersign. We shall alsoorganize a reserve; but as we must make haste, we will speak of thatwhen you are all in position, and there is no longer cause to fear asurprise from the enemy."
"And I," exclaimed Marc Dives, "I shall have nothing to do then? I amto remain with my arms folded, watching the others fight?"
"Thou--thou art to survey the transport of ammunition. None of us knowhow to treat the powder as thou dost, to preserve it from fire anddamp, to melt the balls, and make cartridges."
"But it is woman's work, that is," exclaimed the smuggler."Hexe-Baizel could do it as well as I. What! am I not even to fireonce?"
"Softly, Marc," replied Hullin, laughing; "occasions will not bewanting. In the first place, the Falkenstein is the centre of ourline; it is our arsenal and our retreating place in case of misfortune.The enemy will know through his spies that our convoys come from there;he will try, probably, to take them: the balls and bayonet-thrusts willcome in thy way. Besides, to have thee in safety will be all thebetter, for thy cellars and caves must not be confided to the firstcomer. But if thou really wouldst like----"
"No," said the smuggler, who had been touched by Hullin's reference tohis caves--"no! all things considered, I believe thou art right,Jean-Claude. I have my men--they are well armed--we will defend theFalkenstein; and if the opportunity of firing a shot should presentitself, I shall be all the freer."
"Then that is a decided and well-understood business?" demanded Hullin.
"Yes, yes, it is decided."
"Well, comrades," said the worthy fellow, joyously, "let us warmourselves with a few good glasses of wine. It is ten o'clock; let eachone return to his village, and make his preparations. To-morrowmorning all the defiles must be vigorously occupied."
They quitted the shed, and Hullin, in the presence of his followers,named Labarbe, Jerome, and Piorette chiefs of the defiles: then he toldthose of the Sarre to assemble as soon as possible near the farm ofBois-de-Chenes, with axes, mattocks, and muskets. "We shall leave attwo o'clock, and encamp on the Donon across the route," said he tothem. "To-morrow, at dawn, we will begin the breastworks."
He retained Materne and his two sons Frantz and Kasper, announcing tothem that the battle would commence undoubtedly on the Donon, and thatgood shots would be wanted on that side, which gave them pleasure.
Mistress Lefevre had never looked happier than when she got into hercart again, and, kissing Louise, said in her ear:--"All goes well.Jean-Claude is a man: he sees everything; he draws people to him. Ihave known him forty years, yet he surprises even me." Then turninground--"Jean-Claude," cried she, "we have a ham waiting for us downthere and a few old bottles, which the Germans shall not drink."
"No, Catherine, they shall not drink them. Go on, I am coming."
But just as they were starting, and when already a number ofmountaineers were climbing the hillsides to regain their villages,quite in the distance, on the path of Trois-Fontaines, appeared a largethin man on a big roan cob, with a flat-brimmed cap of rabbit-skincovering the whole back of his neck: a great sheep-dog with a blackshaggy coat bounded along near him; and the ends of his enormoussurtout flapped behind him like wings. Every one cried out,--"It isDoctor Lorquin from the plain--the one who attends poor people gratis.He comes with his dog Pluto. He is a good man."
In fact he it was. He galloped on, shouting, "Halt! stop! halt!" Andhis red face, sharp eyes, red-brown beard, broad shoulders, great horseand dog, all cleaved the air and grew upon the view. In two seconds hehad reached the foot of the mountain, crossed the meadow, and appearedat the bridge, before the shed. Instantly, in breathless tones, hebegan to say:--"Ah! the cunning rogues who want to enter on a campaignwithout me; they shall pay for it!" And tapping a small box he carriedat his crupper,--"Listen, my good fellows, listen! I have somethinginside there of which you shall give me an account: every descriptionof knife, large, small, round and pointed, to take from you the ballsand shot of all kinds which you are going to be regaled with!"Whereupon he burst out laughing, and all those near him felt a coldshiver in all their veins.
Having delivered himself of this pleasantry, Doctor Lorquin continuedin a graver tone:--"Hullin, I must pull your ears! What, when the
country has to be defended, you forget me! others have to warn me. Itappears to me, however, that a doctor will not be out of the way here.I must call you to account."
"Pardon me, doctor, I was wrong," said Hullin, squeezing his hand."During the last week so many things have happened! One does notalways think of everything; and besides, such a man as you are, neednot be told how to fulfil his duty."
The doctor was appeased.
"All that is right and good," he cried; "but nevertheless by your faultI am too late; the good places are taken, the crosses distributed.Come, where is the general, that I may make complaints to him?"
"I am the general."
"Oh! oh! really?"
"Yes, doctor, I am the general; and I promote you to be our headsurgeon."
"Chief surgeon of the partisans of the Vosges! Well, it suits me. Nomalice now, Jean-Claude."
Approaching the cart, the worthy man told Catherine that he relied onher for the organization of the ambulances.
"Everything shall be ready, doctor," replied the farm-mistress."Louise and I are going to set to work this evening. Is it not so,Louise?"
"Oh, yes, Mamma Lefevre," said she, enchanted to perceive that thecampaign was going to begin. "We shall work well; we will spend thenight at it even. M. Lorquin shall be well pleased with us."
"Well, then, let us go. You will dine with us, doctor?"
They trotted away. While keeping pace with them, the good doctorrelated to Catherine laughingly how the tidings of the general risinghad reached him; the affliction of his old housekeeper, Marie, whowanted to prevent his going to be massacred by the "kaiserlichs," andthe various episodes of his journey from Quibolo to the village ofCharmes. Hullin, Materne, and his sons were coming on behind, theircarbines on their shoulders; and thus they ascended the hill-sidetoward the farm of Bois-de-Chenes.