Volume I Part 31 (1/2)

”My young friend here must tell you that,” replied the skipper, laughingly, as he laid his hand on my shoulder. ”Let me present him to you: Mr. Burke,--Lieutenant Brevix.”

The lieutenant saluted me politely; and then, springing up, he jumped gayly on board of us, and shook our hands with great appearance of cordiality.

”They 'll want to see you ash.o.r.e, Antoine, as soon as may be; there are despatches going off to-night for Paris, and they 'll be glad to send the last accounts of the state of the Channel.”

”Light winds and no cruisers are all I have to tell them, then,” said the skipper.

The lieutenant now took him aside, and they conversed for some time in a low tone, during which I occupied myself by watching the sentinels who paraded incessantly to and fro along a low wooden pier that stretched out into the sea, and formed, with a promontory at some distance, a small harbor. Their watch seemed of the most vigilant, if I might judge from the low but continued cry which pa.s.sed from mouth to mouth of ”Sentinelle, prenez garde a vous;” while from each boat across the harbor a sing-song note chanted in response the monotonous sounds, ”Bon quart!” as each quarter of an hour stole past.

These precautions against the approach of any strange craft extended, as I afterwards learned, along the entire coast from Dieppe to Ostend; yet were they not sufficient to prevent frequent visits from the English spies, who penetrated into every quarter of the camp, and even had the hardihood to visit the theatre of the town, and express loudly their disapprobation of the performance.

”You 'd better come ash.o.r.e with me, sir,” said the lieutenant; ”Colonel Dorsenne will be glad to ask you some questions. What papers have you got?”

”None, save a few private letters,” said I, somewhat confused at the question.

”No matter,” said he, gayly. ”I hear from Antoine you wish to join the service here. That wish is your best recommendation to the colonel; he 'll not trouble you for reasons, I warrant you. Conduct monsieur to the quartier-gnral,” said the lieutenant to a corporal, who, with his party of four men, stood awaiting at the landing-place the arrival of any one from the boats; and in an instant, the men falling to each side of me, took their way along the pier.

I could mark as we went that more than once their looks were bent on me with an expression of compa.s.sion and pity, which at the time I was at a loss to explain. I knew not then that the road we were taking was that which so often led to death; and that it was only on the very day before, two Englishmen were shot for having ventured on sh.o.r.e without authority.

The consigne of the corporal pa.s.sed us through one post after another, until we reached the open plain, over which now the night was falling fast. A lantern at some distance off marked the quarters of the officer on duty; and thither we directed our steps, and at last reached a small wooden hut, from within which the sounds of mirth and revelry proceeded.

The voice of the sentinel who challenged us brought an officer to the door, who the moment his eyes fell on me stepped back, and pa.s.sing his hand hurriedly across his forehead muttered, half inaudibly, ”Another already!”

While he retired into an inner apartment, I had time to look at the singular decorations which adorned the walls of the antechamber. Around on every side, and arranged like trophies, were grouped the weapons of different arms of the service, surmounted with some device emblematic of their peculiar character; or sometimes the mere record of some famous battle in which they had pre-eminently distinguished themselves. Here were the long, straight swords of the cuira.s.sier crossed above the steel breastplate, and surmounted by the heavy helmet half hid in leopard skin, and bearing the almost effaced word ”Arcole” in front; there was the short carbine of the voltigeur, over which hung the red cap and its gay gold ta.s.sel, with the embroidered motto ”En avant” in gold letters.

The long and graceful weapon of the lancer, the curved sabre of the _cha.s.seur cheval_, even the axe of the pioneer was not wanting,--displaying at a glance some trait of every branch of the mighty force that bore the proud designation of ”La Grande Arme.”

I was busily engaged inspecting these when the door opened, and an officer in full uniform appeared. His figure was above the middle size, strongly and squarely built; and his bronzed features, and high, bold forehead, gave him a soldier-like air.

”Your name, sir,” said he, quickly, as he drew himself up before me, and looked sternly in my face.

”Burke,--Thomas Burke.”

”Write it down, Auguste,” said he, turning to a young officer, who stood, pen in hand, behind him.

”Your rank or profession?”

”Gentilhomme,” said I, not knowing that the word expressed n.o.bility.

”Ah, _pardieu_,” cried he, as he showed his white teeth in a grin; ”produce your papers, if you have any.”

”I have nothing save those letters,” said I, handing him those of De Meudon.

Scarce had his eye glanced over them, when I saw his color heighten and his cheek tremble.

”What!” cried he, ”are you the same young Irishman who is mentioned here, the constant companion and friend of poor Charles? He was my schoolfellow; we were at Brienne together. What a mistake I was about to fall into! How did you come, and when?”

Before I could reply to any of his many questions, the naval officer I had met at the harbor entered, and delivered his report.

”Yes, yes; I know it all,” said Dorsenne, hurriedly throwing his eye over it. ”It 's all right, perfectly right, Brevix. Let Capitaine Antoine be examined at the quartier-gnral. I 'll take care of monsieur here. And, to begin; come and join us at supper.”

Pa.s.sing his arm familiarly over my shoulder, he led me into the adjoining room, where two other officers were seated at a table covered with silver dishes and numerous flasks of wine. A few words sufficed for my introduction; and a few gla.s.ses of champagne placed me as thoroughly at my ease as though I had pa.s.sed my life amongst them, and never heard any other conversation than the last movement of the French army, and their projects for future campaigns.