按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Germans into negotiations through the medium of a third party only
for purposes of delay。 So the next morning Lord Lyons's secretary；
Mr。 Edward Malet； returned to Paris empty…handed； except that he bore
a communication positively declining mediation； which message；
however； led no doubt to an interview between Bismarck and Favre a
couple of days later。
The forenoon of September 19 the King removed to the Chateau
Ferrieresa castle belonging to the Rothschild family； where
Napoleon had spent many happy days in the time of his prosperity。
His Majesty took up his quarters here at the suggestion of the owner；
we were told； so that by the presence of the King the magnificent
chateau and its treasures of art would be unquestionably protected
from all acts of vandalism。
All of the people at headquarters except the King's immediate suite
were assigned quarters at Lagny； and while Forsyth and I； accompanied
by Sir Henry Havelock； of the British army； were driving thither； we
passed on the road the representative of the National Defense
Government； Jules Favre； in a carriage heading toward Meaux。
Preceded by a flag of truce and accompanied by a single； companion；
be was searching for Count Bismarck； in conformity； doubtless； with
the message the Chancellor had sent to Paris on the 17th by the
British secretary。 A half…mile further on we met Bismarck。 He too
was traveling toward Meaux； not in the best of humor either； it
appeared； for having missed finding the French envoy at the
rendezvous where they had agreed to meet； he stopped long enough to
say that the 〃air was full of lies； and that there were many persons
with the army bent on business that did not concern them。〃
The armies of the two Crown Princes were now at the outskirts of
Paris。 They had come from Sedan mainly by two routesthe Crown
Prince of Saxony marching by the northern line； through Laon and
Soissons； and the Crown Prince of Prussia by the southern line；
keeping his right wing on the north bank of the Marne； while his left
and centre approached the French capital by roads between that river
and the Seine。
The march of these armies had been unobstructed by any resistance
worth mentioning； and as the routes of both columns lay through a
region teeming with everything necessary for their support； and rich
even in luxuries； it struck me that such campaigning was more a vast
picnic than like actual war。 The country supplied at all points
bread； meat； and wine in abundance； and the neat villages； never more
than a mile or two apart； always furnished shelter； hence the
enormous trains required to feed and provide camp equipage for an
army operating in a sparsely settled country were dispensed with； in
truth； about the only impedimenta of the Germans was their wagons
carrying ammunition； pontoon…boats； and the field…telegraph。
On the morning of the 20th I started out accompanied by Forsyth and
Sir Henry Havelock； and took the road through Boissy St。 George；
Boissy St。 Martins and Noisy Le Grand to Brie。 Almost every foot of
the way was strewn with fragments of glass from wine bottles； emptied
and then broken by the troops。 There was； indeed； so much of this
that I refrain from making any estimate of the number of bottles；
lest I be thought to exaggerate； but the road was literally paved
with glass； and the amount of wine consumed （none was wasted） must
have been enormous； far more； even； than I had seen evidence of at
any time before。 There were two almost continuous lines of broken
bottles along the roadsides all the way down from Sedan； but that
exhibit was small compared with what we saw about Brie。
At Brie we were taken charge of by the German commandant of the
place。 He entertained us most hospitably for an hour or so； and
then； accompanied by a lieutenant； who was to be our guide； I set out
ahead of my companions to gain a point on the picket…line where I
expected to get a good look at the French； for their rifle…pits were
but a few hundred yards off across the Marne； their main line being
just behind the rifle…pits。 As the lieutenant and I rode through the
village； some soldiers warned us that the adventure would ；be
dangerous； but that we could probably get to the desired place unhurt
if we avoided the French fire by forcing our horses to a run in
crossing some open streets where we would be exposed。 On getting to
the first street my guide galloped ahead to show the way； and as the
French were not on the lookout for anything of the kind at these
dangerous points； only a few stray shots were drawn by the
lieutenant； but when I followed； they were fully up to what was going
on； and let fly a volley every time they saw me in the open。
Fortunately； however； in their excitement they overshot； but when I
drew rein alongside of my guide under protection of the bluff where
the German picket was posted； my hair was all on end； and I was about
as badly scared as ever I had been in my life。 As soon as I could
recover myself I thought of Havelock and Forsyth； with the hope that
they would not follow； nor did they； for having witnessed my
experience； they wisely concluded that； after all； they did not care
so much to see the French rifle…pits。
When I had climbed to the top of the bluff I was much disappointed；
for I could see but littleonly the advanced rifle…pits across the
river； and Fort Nogent beyond them； not enough； certainly； to repay a
non…combatant for taking the risk of being killed。 The next question
was to return； and deciding to take no more such chances as those we
had run in coming out； I said we would wait till dark； but this
proved unnecessary； for to my utter astonishment my guide informed me
that there was a perfectly safe route by which we might go back。 I
asked why we had not taken it in coming； and he replied that he had
thought it 〃too long and circuitous。〃 To this I could say nothing；
but I concluded that that was not quite the correct reason； the truth
is that early that morning the young fellow had been helping to empty
some of the many wine bottles I saw around Brie； and consequently had
a little more 〃Dutch courage〃was a little more rashthan would
have been the case under other conditions。
I rode back to Brie by the 〃long and circuitous〃 route； and inquiring
there for my companions； found Havelock waiting to conduct me to the
village of Villiers； whither； he said； Forsyth had been called to
make some explanation about his passport； which did not appear to be
in satisfactory shape。 Accordingly we started for Villiers； and
Havelock； being well mounted on an English 〃hunter；〃 and wishing to
give me an exhibition of the animal's training and power； led the way
across ditches and fences； but my horse； never having followed 〃the
hounds；〃 was unsafe to experiment with； so； after trying a low fence
or two； I decided to leave my friend alone in his diversion； and a
few moments later； seeing both horse and rider go down before a ditch
and high stone wall； I was convinced that my resolution was a
discreet one。 After this mishap； which luckily resulted in no harm；
I hoped Sir Henry would give up the amusement； but by failure
becoming only the more determined； in a second effort he cleared the
wall handsomely and rode across…country to the villages。 Following
the road till it passed under a railway bridge； I there thought I saw
a chance to gain Villiers by a short…cut； and changing my course
accordingly； I struck into a large vineyard to the left； and
proceeding a few hundred yards through the vines； came suddenly upon
a German picket…post。 The guard immediately leveled their rifles at
me； when； remembering my Rezonville experience of being taken for a
French officer because of my uniform； I hastily flung myself from the
saddle in token of surrender。 The action being rightly interpreted；
the men held their fire； and as my next thought was the King's pass I
reached under my coat…skirt for the document； but this motion being
taken as a grab for my pistol； the whole lot of themsome ten in
numberagain aimed at me； and with such loud demands for surrender
that I threw up my hands and ran into their ranks。 The officer of
the guard then coming up； examined my credentials； and seeing that
they were signed by the King of Prussia； released me and directed the
recovery of my horse； which was soon caught； and I was then conducted
to the quarters of the commandant； where I found Forsyth with his
pass properly vised； entirely ignorant of my troubles； and
contentedly regaling himself on cheese and beer。 Havelock having got
to the village ahead of me； thanks to his cross…country ride； was
there too； sipping beer with Forsyth； nor was I slow to follow their
example； for the ride of the day； though rather barren in other
results； at any rate had given me a ravenous appetite。
Late that evening； the 20th； we resumed our old quarters at Lagny；