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napoleon bonaparte, v3-第7节

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the barrack; and connected with the kitchen; was a little shed; covered
with thatch; which served as a washroom; and which was also used as a
butler's pantry。

The barrack of Admiral Bruix was arranged like that of the Emperor; but
on a smaller scale。

Near this barrack was the semaphore of the signals; a sort of marine
telegraph by which the fleet was maneuvered。  A little farther on was the
Tour d'Ordre; with a powerful battery composed of six mortars; six
howitzers; and twelve twenty…four pounders。

These six mortars; the largest that had ever been made; were six inches
thick; used forty…five pounds of powder at a charge; and threw bombs
fifteen hundred toises 'A toise is six feet; and a league is three
miles' in the air; and a league and a half out to sea; each bomb thrown
costing the state three hundred francs。  To fire one of these fearful
machines they used port…fires twelve feet long; and the cannoneer
protected himself as best he could by bowing his head between his legs;
and; not rising until after the shot was fired。  The Emperor decided to
fire the first bomb himself。

To the right of the headquarters battery was the barrack of Marshal
Soult; which was constructed in imitation of the but of a savage; and
covered with thatch down to the ground; with glass in the top; and a door
through which。  you descended into the rooms; which were dug out like
cellars。  The principal chamber was round; and in it was a large work…
table covered with green cloth; and surrounded with small leather
folding…chairs。

The last barrack was that of Decres; minister of the navy; which was
furnished like that of Marshal Soult。  From his barrack the Emperor could
observe all the maneuvers at sea; and the telescope; of which I have
spoken; was so good that Dover Castle; with its garrison; was; so to
speak; under the very eyes of his Majesty。  The camp of the right wing;
situated upon the cliff; was divided into streets; each of which bore the
name of some distinguished general; and this cliff bristled with
batteries from Cologne to Ambleteuse; a distance of more than two
leagues。

In order to go from Boulogne to the camp of the right wing; there was
only one road; which began in the Rue des Vieillards; and passed over the
cliff; between the barrack of his Majesty and those of Bruix; Soult; and
Decres; so that if at low tide the Emperor wished to go down upon the
beach; a long detour was necessary。  One day when he was complaining
greatly of this; it occurred to Bonnefoux; maritime prefect of Boulogne;
to apply to Sordi; engineer of military roads; and ascertain if it was
not possible to remedy this great inconvenience。

The engineer replied that it was feasible to provide a road for his
Majesty directly from his barrack to the beach; but that in view of the
great height of the cliff it would be necessary to moderate the rapidity
of the descent by making the road zigzag。  〃Make it as you wish;〃 said
the Emperor; 〃only let it be ready for use in three days。〃  The skillful
engineer went to work; and in three days and three nights the road was
constructed of stone; bound together with iron clamps; and the Emperor;
charmed with so much diligence and ingenuity; had the name of Sordi
placed on the list for the next distribution of the cross of the Legion
of Honor; but; owing to the shameful negligence of some one; the name of
this man of talent was overlooked。  The port of Boulogne contained about
seventeen hundred vessels; such as flatboats; sloops; turkish boats;
gunboats; prairies; mortar…boats; etc。; and the entrance to the port was
defended by an enormous chain; and by four forts; two on the right; and
two on the left。

Fort Husoir; placed on the left; was armed with three formidable
batteries ranged one above the other; the lower row bearing twenty…four
pounders; the second and third; thirty…six pounders。  On the right of
this fort was the revolving bridge; and behind this bridge an old tower
called Castle Croi; ornamented with batteries which were both handsome
and effective。  To the left; about a quarter of a league from Fort
Musoir; was Fort La Creche; projecting boldly into the sea; constructed
of cut stone; and crowned by a terrible battery; and finally; on the
right of Fort La Creche; was the Fort en Bois; perfectly manned; and
pierced by a large opening which was uncovered at low tide。

Upon the cliff to the left of the town; at nearly the same elevation as
the other; was the camp of the left wing。  Here was situated the barrack
of Prince Joseph; at that time colonel of the Fourth Regiment of the
line; this barrack was covered with thatch。  Below the camp; at the foot
of the cliff; the Emperor had a basin hollowed out; in which work a part
of the troops were employed。

It was in this basin that one day a young soldier of the Guard; who had
stuck in the mud up to his knees; tried with all his strength to pull out
his wheelbarrow; which was even worse mired than himself; but he could
not succeed; and covered with sweat; swore and stormed like an angry
grenadier。  By chance lifting his eyes; he suddenly perceived the
Emperor; who was passing by the works on his way to visit his brother
Joseph in the camp on the left。  The soldier looked at him with a
beseeching air and gesture; singing in a most sentimental tone; 〃Come;
oh; come; to my aid。〃  His Majesty could not help smiling; and made signs
to the soldier to approach; which the poor fellow did; after extricating
himself with great difficulty。  〃What is your regiment〃〃Sire; the First
of the Guard。〃〃How long have you been a soldier?〃〃Since you have been
Emperor; Sire。〃〃Indeed; that is not a long time!  It is not long enough
for me to make you an officer; is it?  But conduct yourself well; and I
will have you made sergeant…major。  After that; the cross and epaulets on
the first battlefield。  Are you content?〃〃Yes; Sire。〃〃Chief of
Staff;〃 continued the Emperor; addressing General Berthier; 〃take the
name of this young man。  You will give him three hundred francs to clean
his pantaloons and repair his wheelbarrow。〃  And his Majesty rode on in
the midst of the acclamations of the soldiers。

At the inside extremity of the port; there was a wooden bridge which they
called the Service bridge。  The powder magazines were behind it;
containing an immense amount of ammunition; and after nightfall no one
was allowed to go upon this bridge without giving the countersign to the
second sentinel; for the first always allowed him to pass。  He was not
allowed to pass back again; however; for if any person entering the
bridge was ignorant of the countersign; or had happened to forget it; he
was stopped by the second sentinel; and the first sentinel at the head of
the bridge had express orders to pass his bayonet through the body of the
rash man if he was unable to answer the questions of this last sentinel。
These rigorous precautions were rendered necessary by the vicinity of
these terrible powder magazines; which a single spark might blow up; and
with it the town; the fleet; and the two camps。

At night the port was closed with the big chain I have mentioned; and the
wharves were picketed by sentinels placed fifteen paces from each other。
Each quarter of an hour they called; 〃Sentinels; look out!〃  And the
soldiers of the marine; placed in the topsails; replied to this by;
〃All's well;〃 pronounced in ;a drawling; mournful tone。  Nothing could be
more monotonous or depressing than this continual murmur; this lugubrious
mingling of voices all in the same tone; especially as those making these
cries endeavored to make them as inspiring as possible。

Women not residing in Boulogne were prohibited from remaining there
without a special permit from the minister of police。  This measure had
been judged necessary on account of the army; for otherwise each soldier
perhaps would have brought a woman to Boulogne; and the disorder would
have been indescribable。  Strangers were admitted into the town with
great difficulty。

In spite of all these precautions; spies from the English fleet each day
penetrated into Boulogne。  When they were discovered no quarter was
given; and notwithstanding this; emissaries who had landed; no one knew
where; came each evening to the theater; and carried their imprudence so
far as to write their opinion of the actors and actresses; whom they
designated by name; and to post these writings on the walls of the
theater; thus defying the police。  One day there were found on the shore
two little boats covered with tarpaulin; which these gentry probably used
in their clandestine excursions。

In June; 1804; eight Englishmen; perfectly well dressed; in white silk
stockings; etc。; were arrested; and on them was found sulphurated
apparatus with which they had intended to burn the fleet。  They were shot
within an hour; without any form of trial。

There were also traitors in Boulogne。  A schoolmaster; the secret agent
of Lords Keith and Melville; was surprised one morning on the cliff above
the camp of the right wing; making telegraphic signals with his arms; and
being arrested almost in the act by the sentinels; he protested his
innocence; and tried to turn the i

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