Tom Burke Of Ours, Volume I

by Charles James Lever

  CHAPTER XXI. THE ECOLE MILITAIRE

  Let me now skip over at a bound some twelve months of my life,--not thatthey were to me without their chances and their changes, but they weresuch as are incidental to all boyhood,--and present myself to my readeras the scholar at the Polytechnique. What a change had the time, shortas it was, worked in all my opinions! how completely had I unlearned allthe teaching of my early instructor, poor Darby! how had I been taughtto think that glory was the real element of war, and that its cause wasof far less moment than its conduct!

  The enthusiasm which animated every corps of the French army, and wasfelt through every fibre of the nation, had full sway in the littleworld of the military school. There, every battle was known and connedover; we called every spot of our playground by some name great inthe history of glory; and among ourselves we assumed the titles of theheroes who shed such lustre on their country; and thus in all our boyishsports our talk was of the Bridge of Lodi, Arcole, Rivoli, Castiglione,the Pyramids, Mount Tabor. While the names of Kleber, Kellerman,Massena, Desaix, Murat, were adopted amongst us, but one name onlyremained unappropriated; and no one was bold enough to assume thetitle of him whose victories were the boast of every tongue. If thisenthusiasm was general amongst us, I felt it in all its fullest force,for it came untinged with any other thought. To me there was neitherhome nor family; my days passed over in one unbroken calm,--no thoughtof pleasure, no hope of happiness, when the fete day came round. Myevery sense was wrapped up in the one great desire,--to be a soldier; tohave my name known among those great men whose fame was over Europe; tobe remembered by him whose slightest word of praise was honor itself.When should that day come for me? When should I see the career openbefore me? These were my earliest waking thoughts, my last at nightfall.

  If the intensity of purpose, the strong current of all my hopes, formedfor me an ideal and a happy world within me, yet did it lend a trait ofseriousness to my manner that seemed like melancholy; and while fewknew less what it was to grieve, a certain sadness in me struck mycompanions, on which they often rallied me, but which I strove invain to conquer. It was true that at certain times my loneliness andisolation came coldly on my heart; when one by one I saw others claimedby their friends, and hurrying away to some happy home, where some fondsister threw her arm around a brother's neck, or some doting motherclasped her son close to her bosom and kissed his brow, a tear wouldfind its way down my cheek, and I would hasten to my room, and lockingthe door, sit down alone to think, till my sad heart grew weary, or mysterner nature rose within me, and by an effort over myself, I turned tomy studies and forgot all else.

  Meanwhile I made rapid progress; the unbroken tenor of my thoughts gaveme a decided advantage over the others, and long before the regularperiod arrived, the day for my final examination was appointed.

  What a lasting impression do some passages of early life leave behindthem! Even yet,--and how many years are past!--how well do I rememberall the hopes and fears that stirred my heart as the day drew near!how each morning at sunrise I rose to pore over some of the books whichformed the subjects of examination: how, when the gray dawn was onlybreaking, have I bent over the pages of Vauban and the calculations ofCarnot! and with what a sinking spirit have I often found that a nightseemed to have erased all the fruit of a long day's labor, and that thegain of my hard-worked intellect had escaped me,--and then again, likemagic, the lost thought would come back, my brain grow clear, andall the indistinct and shadowy conceptions assume a firm and tangiblereality which I felt like power! At such times as these my spirits rose,my heart beat high, a joyous feeling throbbed in every pulse, and anexhilaration almost maddening elevated me, and there was nothing I wouldnot have dared, no danger I would not have confronted. Such were theattractions of my boyish days, and such the temperament they bequeathedto my manhood.

  It was on the 16th of June, the anniversary of Marengo, when the drumbeat to arms in the court of the Polytechnique; and soon after thescholars were seen assembling in haste from various quarters, anxious tolearn if their prayer had been acceded to,--which asked permission forthem to visit the Invalides, the usual indulgence on the anniversary ofany great victory.

  As we flocked into the court we were struck by seeing an orderly dragoonstanding beside the headmaster, who was eagerly perusing a letter in hishands; when he had concluded, he spoke a few words to the soldier, whoat once wheeled round his horse and trotted rapidly from the spot.

  Again the drums rolled out, and the order was given to form in line. Inan instant the command was obeyed, and we stood in silent expectation ofthe news which we perceived awaited us.

  "Messieurs les eleves," he began, when stillness was restored, "thisday being the anniversary of the glorious battle of Marengo, the GeneralBonaparte has decreed that a review should be held of the entire school.Lieutenant-General d'Auvergne will arrive here at noon to inspect you,and on such reports as I shall give of your general conduct, zeal, andproficiency will recommendations be forwarded to the First Consul foryour promotion."

  A loud cheer followed this speech. The announcement far surpassed ourmost ardent hopes, and there was no limit to our enthusiasm; and loudvivas in honor of General Bonaparte, D'Auvergne, and the headmasterhimself were heard on all sides.

  Scarcely was the breakfast over when our preparations began. What a busyscene it was! Here were some brushing up their uniforms, polishing theirsword-hilts, and pipeclaying their cross-belts; there might be seenothers conning over the directions of field manoeuvres, and refreshingtheir memory of the words of command; some practised marching in groupsalong the corridor; others, too much excited by the prospect beforethem, jumped madly from place to place, shouting and singing snatchesof soldier songs; but all were occupied. As for me, it was only two daysbefore I had obtained my grade of corporal; my new uniform had only justcome home, and I put it on for the first time with no inconsiderablepride; indeed, I could scarce turn my eyes as I walked from the stripesupon my arm that denoted my rank.

  Long before the appointed time we were all assembled, and when the clockstruck twelve and the drum beat out, not a boy was absent. We were drawnup in three columns according to our standing, spaces being left betweeneach to permit of our wheeling into line at the word of command. Theheadmaster passed down our ranks, narrowly inspecting our equipments andscrutinizing every detail of our costume; but a stronger impulsethan ordinary was now at work, and not the slightest irregularity wasanywhere detectable.

  Meanwhile the time passed on, and although every eye was directed tothe long avenue of lime-trees by which the general must arrive, nothingmoved along it; and the bright streaks of sunlight that peeped betweenthe trees were unbroken by any passing shadow. Whispers passed alongthe ranks,--some fearing he might have forgotten the whole appointment;others suspecting that another review elsewhere had engrossed hisattention; and at last a half murmur of dissatisfaction crept throughthe mass, which only the presence of the _chef_ restrained within duebounds.

  One o'clock struck, and yet no rider appeared; the alley remained silentand deserted as before. The minutes now seemed like hours; weariness andlassitude appeared everywhere. The ranks were broken, and many wanderedfrom their posts, and forgot all discipline. At last a cloud of dustwas seen to rise at a distance, and gradually it approached the longavenue, and every eye was turned in the direction, and in an instantthe stragglers resumed their places, and all was attention and anxiety,while every look pierced eagerly the dense cloud, to see whether it wasnot the long-wished-for staff which was coming. At length the objectburst upon our sight; but what was our disappointment to see that itwas only a travelling carriage with four post-horses that approached.No appearance of a soldier was there,--not one solitary dragoon. Ahalf-uttered shout announced our dissatisfaction, for we at once guessedit was merely some chance visitor, or perhaps the friends of some of thescholars, who had thus excited our false hopes.

  The chef himself participated in our feelings; and passing down thelines, he announced that i
f the general did not arrive within tenminutes, he would himself dismiss us, and set us at liberty. A cheerof gratitude received this speech, and we stood patiently awaiting ourliberation, when suddenly, from the guard-house at the gate, the clashof arms was heard, and the roll of drums in salute, and the same instantthe carriage we had seen rolled into the courtyard and took up itsstation in the middle of the square. The next moment the door was openedand the steps lowered, and an officer in a splendid uniform assistedthree ladies to alight. Before we recovered from the surprise of theproceeding, the master had approached the party, and by his air ofdeference and deep respect denoted that they were no ordinary visitors.But our attention was quickly drawn from the group that now stoodtalking and laughing together, for already the clank of a cavalry escortwas heard coming up the avenue, and we beheld the waving plumes andbrilliant uniform of a general officer's staff advancing at a rapidtrot. The drums now rolled out along the lines; we stood to arms; thegallant cortege turned into the court and formed in front of us. Alleyes were fixed on the general himself, the perfect beau ideal of anold soldier. He sat his horse as firmly and gracefully as the youngestaide-de-camp of his suite; his long white hair, dressed in queue behind,was brushed back off his high broad forehead; his clear blue eye, mildyet resolute, glanced over our ranks; and as he bowed to the headmaster,his whole gesture and bearing was worthy of the Court of which once hewas a brilliant member.

  "I have kept my young friends waiting for me," said he in a low butclear voice, "and it now remains for me to make the only amende in mypower,--a short inspection. Dorsenne, will you take the command?"

  I started at the name, and looked round; and close beside him stood thesame officer who had so kindly received me the day I landed in France.Though he looked at me, however, I saw he did not remember me, and myspirits sank again as I thought how utterly friendless and alone I was.

  The general was true to his word in making the inspection as brief aspossible. He rode leisurely down the ranks, stopping from time to timeto express his satisfaction, or drop some chance word of encouragementor advice, which we caught up with eagerness and delight. Forming usinto line, he ordered his aide-de-camp to put us through some of theordinary parade manoeuvres, which we knew as thoroughly as the mostdisciplined troops. During all this time the group of ladies maintainedtheir position in front, and seemed to watch the review with everysemblance of interest. The general, too, made one of the party, andappeared from time to time to explain the intended movement, and directtheir attention to the scene.

  "Let them march past in salute," said he, at length. "The poor fellowshave had enough of it; I must not encroach on the entire holiday."

  A unanimous cheer was the reply to this kind speech, and we formed insections and marched by him at a quickstep. The chef d'ecole had nowapproached the staff, and was making his report on the boys, when thegeneral again interrupted him by saying,--

  "Madame has expressed a wish to see the boys at their usual exercise ofthe play hour. If the request be admissible--"

  "Certainly, mon general; of course," said he. And stepping forward, hebeckoned to one of the drummers to come near. He whispered a word, andthe tattoo beat out; and, like magic, every one sprang from his ranks,caps were flung into the air, and vivas rung out from every quarter ofthe court.

  The sudden transition from discipline to perfect liberty added to ourexcitement, and we became half wild with delight. The first mad burstof pleasure over, we turned, as if by instinct, to our accustomedoccupations. Here were seen a party collecting for a drill, officersgathering and arranging their men, and sergeants assisting in themuster; there, were others, armed with spades and shovels, at work onan entrenchment, while some were driving down stockades and fixing apalisade; another set, more peaceful in their pursuits, had retired totheir little gardens, and were busy with watering-pots and trowels.

  The section I belonged to were the seniors of the school, and we haderected a kind of fort which it was our daily amusement to defend andattack, the leadership on either side being determined by lots. Onthis day the assault had fallen to my command, and I hurried hither andthither collecting my forces, and burning for the attack.

  We were not long in assembling; and the garrison having announced theirreadiness by the display of a flag from the ramparts, the assault began.I know not why nor wherefore, but on this day my spirits were unusuallyhigh; it was one of those chance occasions when my temperament, heatedand glowing, had elevated me in my own esteem, and I would have given mylife for some opportunity of distinguishing myself.

  I led my party on, then, with more than common daring, and thoughrepulsed by the besieged, we fell back only for a moment, and returnedto the assault determined to succeed; the others, animated by the samespirit, fought as bravely, and the cheers that rose from one side werereplied to by shouts as full of defiance from the other. Heated andexcited, I turned round to order an attack of my whole force, when tomy surprise I beheld that the general and his staff, accompanied by theladies, had taken their places a short distance off, and were becomeinterested spectators of the siege. This alone was wanting to stimulatemy efforts to the utmost, and I now returned to the fight with tenfoldimpetuosity. But if this feeling animated me, it also nerved myantagonists, for their resistance rose with every moment, and asthey drove us back from their walls, cheers of triumph rang out andproclaimed the victory.

  Already the battle had lasted nearly an hour, and all that was obtainedwas a slight breach in one of the outworks, too small to be practicablefor assault. In this state were matters, when the sound of a cavalryescort turned every eye towards the entrance to the courtyard, wherewe now beheld a squadron of the Landers rouges following a numerous andbrilliant staff of general officers.

  Scarcely had they entered the gates when a loud cry rent the air, andevery voice shouted, "C'est lui! c'est lui!" and the next moment, "ViveBonaparte! vive le Premier Consul!" All that I ever heard from poor DeMeudon came rushing on my mind, and my heart swelled out till it seemedbursting my very bosom. The next instant my eye turned to the littlefort; the moment was propitious, for there every cap was waving, everylook bent towards him, I seized the opportunity, and pointing silentlyto the breach, stole forward. In a second I was beneath the grassyrampart; in another, I reached the breach; the next brought me to thetop, where, with a shout of victory, I called on my men to follow me. Onthey came rushing,--but too late; already the garrison were upon me, andovercome by numbers, I fought alone and unsupported. Step by step theydrove me to the edge of the rampart; already my foot was on the breach,when with a spring I dashed at the flagstaff, and carried it with meas I fell headlong into the ditch. In a moment I was on my legs, butso stunned and crushed that I fell almost immediately again; coldperspiration broke over my face and forehead, and I should have faintedbut that they dashed some water over me.

  As I lay sick and faint I lifted my eyes; and what was my amazement tosee, not the little companions of the school about me, but the gorgeousuniform of staff officers, and two elegantly-dressed ladies, one of whomheld a cup of water in her hand and sprinkled it over my brow. I lookeddown upon my torn dress, and the sleeve of my coat, where the marks ofmy rank were already half effaced, and I felt the tears start intomy eyes as the remembrance of my late failure crossed my mind. At theinstant the crowd opened, and a pale but handsome face, where commandwas tempered by a look of almost womanly softness, smiled upon me.

  [Illlustration: C'etait bien fait, mon enfant 223]

  "C'etait bien fait, mon enfant," said he, "tres bien fait; and if youhave lost a coat by the struggle, why I must even see if I can't giveyou another to replace it. Monsieur Legrange, what is the character ofthis boy in the school? Is he diligent, zealous, and well-conducted!"

  "All of the three. General," said the chef, bowing obsequiously.

  "Let him have his brevet,--to date from to-day. Who are his friends?"

  A whispered answer replied to this inquiry.

  "Indeed!" said the first speaker; "reas
on the more we should take careof him. Monsieur," continued he, turning towards me, "to-morrow youshall have your epaulettes. Never forget how you gained them; andremember ever that every grade in the service is within the reach of abrave man who does his duty."

  So saying, he passed on, while, overcome by emotion, I could not speakor move.

  "There, he is much better now," said a soft voice near me; "you see hiscolor is coming back."

  I looked up, and there were two ladies standing beside me. The elder wastall and elegantly formed; her figure, which in itself most graceful,looked to its full advantage by the splendor of her dress; there was anair of stateliness in her manner, which had seemed hauteur were itnot for a look of most benevolent softness that played about her mouthwhenever she spoke. The younger, who might in years have seemed herdaughter, was in every respect unlike her: she was slight and delicatelyformed; her complexion and her black eyes, shaded by a long dark fringe,bespoke the Provencal; her features were beautifully regular, and whenat rest completely Greek in their character, but each moment somechance word, some passing thought, implanted a new expression, and theever-varying look of her flashing eyes and full round lips played betweena smile and that arch spirit that essentially belongs to the fairdaughters of the South. It was not until my fixed gaze had brought adeep blush to her cheek, that I felt how ardently I had been looking ather.

  "Yes, yes," said she, hurriedly, "he's quite well now;" and at the samemoment she made a gesture of impatience to pass on. But the elder heldher arm close within her own, as she whispered, with something of halfmalice, "But stay, Marie; I should like to hear his name. Ah," criedshe, starting in affected surprise, "how flushed you are! there must besomething in the air here, so we had better proceed." And with a softsmile and a courteous motion of her hand, she passed on.

  I looked after them as they went. A strange odd feeling stirred withinmy heart,--a kind of wild joy, with a mingled sense of hope too vague tocatch at. I watched the drooping feather of her bonnet, and the folds ofher dress as they fluttered in the wind; and when she disappeared frommy sight, I could scarce believe that she was not still beside me,and that lier dark eyes did not look into my very soul. But already mycompanions crowded about me, and amid a hundred warm congratulations andkind wishes, I took my way back to the college.

  Scarcely was breakfast over the following morning, when the orderarrived for my removal from the scholar quarter of the Polytechnique tothat occupied by the cadets. A small tricolored cockade affixed tomy hat was the only emblem of my new rank; but simple as it was, nodecoration ever attracted more envy and admiration from the beholders,nor gave more pride to the wearer, than that knot of ribbon.

  "At number thirteen you 'll find your quarters, Monsieur le Cadet," saida sergeant, as he presented me with the official order.

  I remember at this very hour what a thrill his military salute sentthrough me. It was the first acknowledgment of my grade; the firstrecognition that I was no longer a mere schoolboy. I had not much timegranted me to indulge such sensations, for already my schoolfellows hadthronged round me, and overwhelmed me with questions and felicitations.

  "Ah, what a fortunate fellow! No examination to go through; hashis grade given him without toiling for it."--"Is it the cavalry,Burke"--"Are you a cheval?"--"When do you join?"--"Where is yourregiment?"--"Shall we see you again?"--"Won't you write to us all aboutthe corps when you join them?"--"Who is your comrade?"--"Yes, tell usthat; who is he?"

  "Ma foi," said I, "I know not more than yourselves. You are all aware towhat an accident I owe my promotion. Where I am destined for, or in whatcorps, I can't tell. And as to my comrade--"

  "Ah! take care he 's no tyrant," said one.

  "Yes, yes," cried another; "show him you know what a small sword is atonce."

  "Burke won't be trifled with," cried a third.

  And then followed a very chorus of voices, each detailing some atrocitycommitted by the cadets on their newly-joined associates. One had afriend wounded in the side the very day he joined; another knew some onewho was thrown out of a window: here was an account of a delicate boywho passed an entire night in the snow, and died of a chest diseasethree weeks after; there, a victim to intemperance met his fate inthe orgy that celebrated his promotion. This picture, I confess, didsomewhat damp the ardor of my first impressions; and I took leave of myold friends with not less feeling of affection, that I doubted how muchkindness and good feeling I had to expect from my new ones.

  In this mood of mind I shook their hands for the last time, and followedthe soldier who carried my baggage to the distant quarter of the ecole.As I entered the large court by the richly ornamented gate, whosebronzed tracery and handsome carving dated from the time of Louis theFourteenth, my heart swelled with conscious pride. The facade ofthe square, unlike the simple front of the scholars' quarters, wasbeautifully architectural; massive consoles supported the windows,and large armorial insignia, cut on stone, surmounted the differententrances. But what most captivated my spirits and engaged my attentionwas a large flag in the centre, from which waved the broad ensign ofFrance, beside which a sentinel paced to and fro. He presented arms asI passed; and the click of his musket, as he stood erect, sent a thrillthrough me, and made my very fingers tingle with delight.

  "This is number thirteen, sir," said the soldier, as we arrived in frontof one of the doorways; and before I could reply, the door opened, and ayoung officer, in the uniform of an infantry regiment, appeared. He wasabout to pass out, when his eye resting on the luggage the soldier hadjust placed beside him, he stopped suddenly, and, touching his cap,asked in a polite tone,--

  "Not Mr. Burke, is it?"

  "Yes," said I, bowing in return.

  "Eh, mon camarade," said he, holding out his hand, "delighted to seeyou. Have you breakfasted? Well, you 'll find all ready for you in thequarters. I shall be back soon. I 'm only going to a morning drill,which won't last half an hour; so make yourself at home, and we'll meetsoon again."

  So saying, he once more saluted me, and passed on. "Not very like whatI feared," thought I, as I entered the quarters, whose look of neatnessand comfort so pleasantly contrasted with my late abode. I had barelytime to look over the prints and maps of military subjects whichornamented the walls, when my new friend made his appearance.

  "No parade to-day, thank Heaven," said he, throwing down his cap andsabre, and lolling at full length on the little camp sofa. "Now, moncher camarade, let us make acquaintance at once, for our time is likelyto be of the shortest. My name is Tascher, a humble sous-lieutenant ofthe Twenty-first Regiment of Foot. As much a stranger in this land asyourself, I fancy," continued he, after a slight pause, "but very wellcontented to be adopted by it."

  After this opening, he proceeded to inform me that he was the nephew ofMadame Bonaparte,--her sister's only son,--who, at his mother's death,left Guadaloupe, and came over to France, and became an eleve of thePolytechnique. There he had remained five years, and after a severeexamination, obtained his brevet in an infantry corps; his uncleBonaparte having shown him no other favor nor affection than a severereprimand on one occasion for some boyish freak, when all the otherdelinquents escaped scot-free.

  "I am now under orders for service," said he; "but where for, and when,I can't tell. But this I know, that whatever good fortune may be goinga-begging, I, Lieutenant Tascher, am very likely to get only the hem ofthe garment."

  There was a tone of easy and frank good-nature in all he said, whichat once disposed me to like the young Creole; and we spent the wholeafternoon recounting our various adventures and fortunes, and beforenight came on were sworn friends for life.