Part 56 (1/2)

From the neighboring city resounded the artillery, indicating the final struggle of the French and the allies. The emperor's slumber was not disturbed, for the roar of battle was too familiar to him.

Suddenly, however, there was a terrific explosion that shook the earth; the windows of the room were shattered to pieces, and the bed on which the emperor was reposing was pushed from the wall as if by invisible arms. He sprang to his feet and glanced wonderingly around. ”What was that?” he inquired. ”It was no discharge of artillery, it was an explosion!” He quickly left the mill and stepped out of the front door. There stood the generals, and looked in evident anxiety toward Leipsic. Here and there bright flames were bursting from the roofs of the houses; one-half of the city was wrapped in clouds of smoke, so that it was impossible to distinguish any thing.

”An explosion has taken place there,” said Napoleon, pointing to that side.

At this moment several hors.e.m.e.n galloped rapidly toward the mill; they were headed by the King of Naples in his uniform, decked with glittering orders. A few paces from the emperor he stopped his horse and alighted.

”Murat,” shouted the emperor to him, ”what has happened?”

”Sire,” he said, ”a terrible calamity has occurred. The bridge across the Elster, the only remaining pa.s.sage over the river, has been blown up!”

”And our troops?” cried the emperor.

”Sire, the rear-guard, twenty thousand strong, are still on the opposite bank, and unable to escape.”

The emperor uttered a cry, half of pain, half of anger. ”Ah,” he exclaimed, ”this, then, is the way in which my orders are carried out! My G.o.d! twenty thousand brave men are lost--hopelessly lost!”

He struck both his hands against his temples.

No one dared disturb him; his generals surrounded him, silent and gloomy. Presently, some hors.e.m.e.n galloped up; at their head was a general, hatless and in a dripping uniform.

”Sire, there comes Marshal Macdonald,” exclaimed Murat.

Napoleon hastened forward to meet the marshal, who had just jumped from his horse.

”You come out of the water, marshal?” inquired Napoleon, pointing to his wet uniform.

”Yes, sire. By swimming my horse across, I have escaped to this side of the river, and I come to inform your majesty that the troops intrusted to me have perished through no fault of mine. Sire, they were twenty thousand strong, and I come back alone. I come to lay my life at the feet of your majesty.”

”G.o.d be praised that you at least have been preserved,” said the emperor, offering his hand to Macdonald. ”But you say the troops have perished? Is, then, that impossible for the soldiers which was possible for you? Cannot they swim across to this side of the river?”

”Sire, my escape was almost miraculous. I owe it to my horse, who carried me across in the agony of despair; I owe it to G.o.d, who, perhaps, wished to preserve a faithful and devoted servant to your majesty. But, by my side, no less faithful servants were carried away, and, standing on the other bank, I saw their corpses drifting along.”

”Who were they?” asked Napoleon, abruptly, and almost in a, harsh tone.

”Sire, General Dumoustier was one; but he is not the victim most to be lamented of this disastrous day.”

”Who is it?” exclaimed the emperor, and, casting around a hasty, anxious glance, he seemed to count his attendants to see who was missing.

”Sire,” said Macdonald, in a trembling voice, ”Prince Joseph Poniatowsky plunged with his horse into the river--”

”And he perished?” cried Napoleon.

”Yes, sire, he did not reach the opposite bank!”

The emperor buried his face in his hands, and groaned. He sat for some time motionless. At length he removed his hands from his face, which looked like marble, bloodless and cold.

”And my soldiers?” he inquired. ”Did they endeavor to escape as Poniatowsky?”

”Yes, sire! Thousands threw themselves into the river, but only a few succeeded in escaping, while the others fell into the deep and muddy channel; and those who were on the opposite bank were made prisoners by the allies, who are now in possession of the city.”

”Twenty thousand men lost!” sighed Napoleon, and he relapsed into gloomy thought. Presently he raised his head again and cast a flaming glance on Macdonald.