napoleon bonaparte, v3-第8节

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being　arrested　almost　in　the　act　by　the　sentinels；　he　protested　his
innocence；　and　tried　to　turn　the　incident　into　a　jest；　but　his　papers
were　searched；　and　correspondence　with　the　English　found；　which　clearly
proved　his　guilt。　　He　was　delivered　to　the　council　of　war；　and　shot　the
next　day。

One　evening　between　eleven　o'clock　and　midnight；　a　fire…ship；　rigged　like
a　French　ship；　flying　French　colors；　and　in　every　respect　resembling　a
gunboat；　advanced　towards　the　line　of　battle　and　passed　through。　　By
unpardonable　negligence　the　chain　had　not　been　stretched　that　evening。
This　fire…ship　was　followed　by　a　second；　which　exploded；　striking　a
sloop；　which　went　down　with　it。　　This　explosion　gave　the　alarm　to　the
whole　fleet；　and　lights　instantly　shone　in　every　direction；　revealing　the
first　fire…ship　advancing　between　the　jetties；　a　sight　which　was
witnessed　with　inexpressible　anxiety。　　Three　or　four　pieces　of　wood
connected　by　cables　fortunately　stopped　her　progress；　but　she　blew　up
with　such　a　shock　that　the　glasses　of　all　the　windows　in　town　were
shattered；　and　a　great　number　of　the　inhabitants；　who　for　want　of　beds
were　sleeping　upon　tables；　were　thrown　to　the　floor；　and　awakened　by　the
fall　without　comprehending　what　had　happened。　　In　ten　minutes　everybody
was　stirring；　as　it　was　thought　that　the　English　were　in　the　port；　and
there　ensued　such　confusion；　such　a　mingled　tumult　of　noises　and　screams；
that　no　one　could　make　himself　understood；　until　criers　preceded　by　drums
were　sent　through　the　town　to　reassure　the　inhabitants；　and　inform　them
that　all　danger　was　past。

The　next　day　songs　were　composed　on　this　nocturnal　alarm；　and　were　soon
in　every　mouth。

Another　alarm；　but　of　an　entirely　different　kind；　upset　all　Boulogne　in
the　autumn　of　1804。　　About　eight　o'clock　in　the　evening　a　chimney　caught
fire　on　the　right　of　the　port；　and　the　light　of　this　fire；　shining
through　the　masts　of　the　flotilla；　alarmed　the　commandant　of　a　post　on
the　opposite　shore。　　At　this　time　all　the　vessels　had　powder　and
ammunition　on　board；　and　the　poor　commandant；　beside　himself　with　terror；
cried；　〃Boys；　the　fleet　is　on　fire；　〃　and　immediately　had　the　alarm
beaten。　　The　frightful　news　spread　like　lightning；　and　in　less　than　half
an　hour　more　than　sixty　thousand　men　appeared　upon　the　wharves；　the
tocsin　was　sounded　in　all　the　churches；　the　forts　fired　alarm　guns；　while
drums　and　trumpets　sounded　along　the　streets；　the　whole　making　an
infernal　tumult。

The　Emperor　was　at　headquarters　when　this　terrible　cry；　〃The　fleet　is　on
fire；〃　came　to　his　ears。　　〃It　is　impossible！〃　he　immediately　exclaimed；
but；　nevertheless；　rushed　out　instantly。

On　entering　the　town；。　　what　a　frightful　spectacle　we　beheld。　　Women　in
tears；　holding　their　children　in　their　arms；　ran　like　lunatics；　uttering
cries　of　despair；　while　men　abandoned　their　houses；　carrying　off　whatever
was　most　valuable；　running　against　and　knocking　each　other　over　in　the
darkness。　　On　all　sides　was　heard；　〃Mauve　qui　peat；　we　are　going　to　be
blown　up；　we　are　all　lost；〃　and　the　maledictions；　lamentations；
blasphemies；　were　sufficient　to　make　your　hair　stand　on　end。

The　aides…de…camp　of　his　Majesty　and　those　of　Marshal　Soult　galloped　in
every　direction；　forcing　their　way　through　the　crowds；　stopping　the
drummers；　and　asking　them；　〃Why　do　you　beat　the　alarm？　　Who　has　ordered
you　to　beat　the　alarm？〃〃We　don't　know；〃　they　replied；　and　the　drums
continued　to　beat；　while　the　tumult　kept　on　increasing；　and　the　crowd
rushed　to　the　gates；　struck　by　a　terror　which　a　moment's　reflection　would
have　dissipated。　　But；　unfortunately；　fear　gives　no　time　for　reflection。

It　is　true；　however；　that　a　considerable　number　of　inhabitants；　less
excitable　than　these　I　have　described；　remained　quietly　at　home；　well
knowing　that　if　the　fleet　had　really　been　on　fire；　there　would　have　been
no　time　to　give　an　alarm。　　These　persons　made　every　effort　to　quiet　the
excited　crowd。　　Madame　F；　the　very　pretty　and　very　amiable　wife　of　a
clockmaker；　was　in　her　kitchen　making　preparations　for　supper；　when　a
neighbor；　thoroughly　frightened；　entered；　and　said　to　her；　〃Save　yourself
Madame；　you　have　not　a　moment　to　lose！〃〃What　is　the　matter？〃〃The
fleet　is　on　fire！　　〃Ah…pshaw！〃〃Fly　then；　Madame；　fly！　　I　tell　you　the
fleet　is　on　fire。〃　　And　the　neighbor　took　Madame　F　by　the　arm；　and
endeavored　to　pull　her　along。　　Madame　F　held　at　the　moment　a　frying…
pan　in　which　she　was　cooking　some　fritters。　　〃Take　care；　you　will　make　me
burn　my　fritters；〃　said　she；　laughing。　　And　with　a　few　half　serious；　half
jesting　words　she　reassured　the　poor　fellow；　who　ended　by　laughing　at
himself。

At　last　the　tumult　was　appeased；　and　to　this　great　fright　a　profound　calm
succeeded。　　No　explosion　had　been　heard；　and　they　saw　that　it　must　have
been　a　false　alarm；　so　each　returned　home；　thinking　no　longer　of　the
fire；　but　agitated　by　another　fear。　　The　robbers　may　have　profited　by　the
absence　of　the　inhabitants　to　pillage　the　houses；　but　as　luck　would　have
it　no　mischance　of　this　kind　had　taken　place。

The　next　day　the　poor　commandant　who　had　so　inopportunely　taken　and　given
the　alarm　was　brought　before　the　council　of　war。　　He　was　guilty　of　no
intentional　wrong；　but　the　law　was　explicit；　and　he　was　condemned　to
death。　　His　judges；　however；　recommended　him　to　the　mercy　of　the　Emperor；
who　pardoned　him。




CHAPTER　XVII。

Many　of　the　brave　soldiers　who　composed　the　army　of　Boulogne　had　earned
the　cross　（of　the　Legion　of　Honor）　in　these　last　campaigns；　and　his
Majesty　desired　that　this　distribution　should　be　made　an　impressive
occasion；　which　should　long　be　remembered。　　He　chose　the　day　after　his
fete；　Aug。　16；　1804。　　Never　has　there　been　in　the　past；　nor　can　there　be
in　the　future；　a　more　imposing　spectacle。

At　six　o'clock　in　the　morning；　more　than　eighty　thousand　men　left　the
four　camps；at　their　head　drums　beating　and　bands　playing；and　advanced
by　divisions　towards　the　〃Hubertmill〃　field；　which　was　on　the　cliff
beyond　the　camp　of　the　right　wing。　　On　this　plain　an　immense　platform　had
been　erected；　about　fifteen　feet　above　the　ground；　and　with　its　back
toward　the　sea。　　It　was　reached　by　three　flights　of　richly　carpeted
steps；　situated　in　the　middle　and　on　each　side。　　From　the　stage　thus
formed；　about　forty　feet　square；　rose　three　other　platforms；　the　central
one　bearing　the　imperial　armchair；　decorated　with　trophies　and　banners；
while　that　on　the　left　held　seats　for　the　brothers　of　the　Emperor；　and
for　the　grand　dignitaries；　and　that　on　the　right　bore　a　tripod　of　antique
form；　surmounted　by　a　helmet　（the　helmet　of　Duguesclin；　I　think）；　covered
with　crosses　and　ribbons。　　By　the　side　of　the　tripod　had　been　placed　a
seat　for　the　arch…chancellor。

About　three　hundred　steps　from　the　throne；　the　land　rose　in　a　slight　and
almost　circular　ascent；　and　on　this　ascent　the　troops　were　arranged　as　in
an　amphitheater。　　To　the　right　of　the　throne；　on　an　eminence；　were　placed
sixty　or　eighty　tents　made　of　naval　flags；　these　tents　were　intended　for
the　ladies　of　the　city；　and　made　a　charming　picture；　but　they　were　so　far
from　the　throne　that　the　spectators　who　filled　them　were　obliged　to　use
glasses。　　Between　these　tents　and　the　throne　a　part　of　the　Imperial　Guard
was　ranged　in　line　of　battle。

The　weather　was　perfect；　there　was　not　a　cloud　in　the　sky；　the　English
cruisers　had　disappeared；　and　on　the　sea　could　be　seen　only　our　line　of
vessels　handsomely　decorated　with　flags。

At　ten　o'clock　in　the　morning；　a　discharge　of　artillery　announced　the
departure　of　the　Emperor；　and　his　Majesty　left　his　barrack；　surrounded　by
more　than　eighty　generals　and　two　hundred　aides…decamp；　all　his　household
following　him。　　The　Emperor　was　dressed　in　the　uniform　of　the　colonel…
general　of　the　infantry　of　the　guard。　　He　rode　at　a　gallop　to　the　foot　of
the　throne；　in　the　midst　of　universal　acclamations　and　the　most　deafening
uproar　made　by　drums；　trumpets；　and　cannon；　beating；　blowing；　and　roaring
all　together。

His　Majesty　mounted　the　throne；　followed　by　his　brothers　and　the　grand
dignitaries；　and　when　he　was　seated　each　one　took　his　designated　place；
and　the　distribution　of　the　crosses　began　in　the　following　manner：
An　aide…de…camp　of　the　Emperor　called　by　name　the　soldiers　to　be　honored；
who　one　by　one　stopped　at　the　foot　of　the　throne；　bowed；　and　mounted　the
steps　on　the　right。　　There　they　were　received　by　the　arch…chancellor；　who
delivered　to　them　their　commissions；　and　two　pages；　placed　between　the
Emperor　and　the　tripod；　took　the　decoration　from　the　helmet　of
Duguesclin；　and　handed　it　to　his　Majesty；　who　fastened　it　himself　on　the
breast　of　the　brave　fellow。　　Instantly　more　than　eight　hundred　drums　beat
a　tattoo；　and　when　the　soldier　thus　decorated　descended　from　the　throne
by　the　steps　on　the　left；　as　he　passed　before　the　brilliant　staff　of　the
Emperor　a　burst　of　music　from　more　than　twelve　hundred　musicians　signaled
the　return　to　his　company　of　the　Knight　of　the　Legion　of　Honor。　　It　is
needless　to　say　that　the　cry　of　'Vive　l'Empereur'　was　repeated　twice　at
each　decoration。

The　distribution　began　at　ten　o'clock；　and　ended　about　three。　　Then；
according　to　orders