the seven poor travellers(七个可怜的旅行者)-第5章
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have always had； I know but notSpare me； sir！ I am a broken wretch；
quite at your mercy！〃 And he turned his face to the wall； and stretched
out his imploring hand。
〃My friend〃 began the Captain。
〃God bless you； sir！〃 sobbed Private Richard Doubledick。
〃You are at the crisis of your fate。 Hold your course unchanged a
little longer； and you know what must happen。 I know even better than
you can imagine； that； after that has happened； you are lost。 No man who
could shed those tears could bear those marks。〃
〃I fully believe it； sir；〃 in a low； shivering voice said Private Richard
Doubledick。
〃But a man in any station can do his duty；〃 said the young Captain；
〃and； in doing it； can earn his own respect； even if his case should be so
very unfortunate and so very rare that he can earn no other man's。 A
common soldier； poor brute though you called him just now； has this
advantage in the stormy times we live in； that he always does his duty
before a host of sympathising witnesses。 Do you doubt that he may so do
it as to be extolled through a whole regiment； through a whole army；
through a whole country？ Turn while you may yet retrieve the past； and
try。〃
〃I will！ I ask for only one witness； sir；〃 cried Richard； with a bursting
heart。
〃I understand you。 I will be a watchful and a faithful one。〃
I have heard from Private Richard Doubledick's own lips； that he
dropped down upon his knee； kissed that officer's hand； arose； and went
out of the light of the dark； bright eyes； an altered man。
In that year； one thousand seven hundred and ninety…nine； the French
were in Egypt； in Italy； in Germany； where not？ Napoleon Bonaparte had
likewise begun to stir against us in India； and most men could read the
signs of the great troubles that were coming on。 In the very next year；
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THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
when we formed an alliance with Austria against him； Captain Taunton's
regiment was on service in India。 And there was not a finer non…
commissioned officer in it；no； nor in the whole linethan Corporal
Richard Doubledick。
In eighteen hundred and one； the Indian army were on the coast of
Egypt。 Next year was the year of the proclamation of the short peace；
and they were recalled。 It had then become well known to thousands of
men； that wherever Captain Taunton； with the dark； bright eyes； led； there；
close to him； ever at his side； firm as a rock； true as the sun； and brave as
Mars； would be certain to be found； while life beat in their hearts； that
famous soldier； Sergeant Richard Doubledick。
Eighteen hundred and five； besides being the great year of Trafalgar；
was a year of hard fighting in India。 That year saw such wonders done
by a Sergeant…Major； who cut his way single…handed through a solid mass
of men； recovered the colours of his regiment； which had been seized from
the hand of a poor boy shot through the heart； and rescued his wounded
Captain； who was down； and in a very jungle of horses' hoofs and sabres；
saw such wonders done； I say； by this brave Sergeant…Major； that he was
specially made the bearer of the colours he had won； and Ensign Richard
Doubledick had risen from the ranks。
Sorely cut up in every battle； but always reinforced by the bravest of
men；for the fame of following the old colours； shot through and through；
which Ensign Richard Doubledick had saved； inspired all breasts；this
regiment fought its way through the Peninsular war； up to the investment
of Badajos in eighteen hundred and twelve。 Again and again it had been
cheered through the British ranks until the tears had sprung into men's
eyes at the mere hearing of the mighty British voice； so exultant in their
valour； and there was not a drummer…boy but knew the legend； that
wherever the two friends； Major Taunton； with the dark； bright eyes； and
Ensign Richard Doubledick； who was devoted to him； were seen to go；
there the boldest spirits in the English army became wild to follow。
One day； at Badajos；not in the great storming； but in repelling a hot
sally of the besieged upon our men at work in the trenches； who had given
way；the two officers found themselves hurrying forward； face to face；
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THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
against a party of French infantry； who made a stand。 There was an officer
at their head； encouraging his men；a courageous； handsome； gallant
officer of five…and…thirty； whom Doubledick saw hurriedly； almost
momentarily； but saw well。 He particularly noticed this officer waving
his sword； and rallying his men with an eager and excited cry； when they
fired in obedience to his gesture； and Major Taunton dropped。
It was over in ten minutes more； and Doubledick returned to the spot
where he had laid the best friend man ever had on a coat spread upon the
wet clay。 Major Taunton's uniform was opened at the breast； and on his
shirt were three little spots of blood。
〃Dear Doubledick；〃 said he； 〃I am dying。〃
〃For the love of Heaven； no！〃 exclaimed the other； kneeling down
beside him； and passing his arm round his neck to raise his head。 〃Taunton！
My preserver； my guardian angel； my witness！ Dearest； truest； kindest of
human beings！ Taunton！ For God's sake！〃
The bright； dark eyesso very； very dark now； in the pale face smiled
upon him； and the hand he had kissed thirteen years ago laid itself fondly
on his breast。
〃Write to my mother。 You will see Home again。 Tell her how we
became friends。 It will comfort her； as it comforts me。〃
He spoke no more； but faintly signed for a moment towards his hair as
it fluttered in the wind。 The Ensign understood him。 He smiled again
when he saw that； and； gently turning his face over on the supporting arm
as if for rest； died； with his hand upon the breast in which he had revived a
soul。
No dry eye looked on Ensign Richard Doubledick that melancholy day。
He buried his friend on the field； and became a lone； bereaved man。
Beyond his duty he appeared to have but two remaining cares in life；one；
to preserve the little packet of hair he was to give to Taunton's mother； the
other； to encounter that French officer who had rallied the men under
whose fire Taunton fell。 A new legend now began to circulate among our
troops； and it was； that when he and the French officer came face to face
once more； there would be weeping in France。
The war went onand through it went the exact picture of the French
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THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
officer on the one side； and the bodily reality upon the other until the
Battle of Toulouse was fought。 In the returns sent home appeared these
words： 〃Severely wounded； but not dangerously； Lieutenant Richard
Doubledick。〃
At Midsummer…time； in the year eighteen hundred and fou
