He wore two immense and very handsome
gold epaulets.
"My good boy," said he, after the officer who had captured me had told his
story--"so your Government thinks the Emperor is retreating from the
Elbe?"
I was a tolerable French scholar as times went, and answered him as well
as I could.
"I have said nothing about that, sir; but, from your question, I presume
you command the rear--guard, Colonel?"
"How strong is your squadron on the river?" said he, parrying the
question.
"There is only one sloop of war, sir"--and I spoke the truth.
He looked at me, and smiled incredulously; and then continued "I don't
command the rear--guard, sir--but I waste time--are the boats ready?"
He was answered in the affirmative.
"Then set fire to the houses, and let off the rockets; they will see them
at Cuxhaven--men," fall in--march--and off we all trundled towards the
river again.
When we arrived there, we found ten Blankanese boats, two of them very
large, and fitted with sliding platforms. The four fieldpieces were run
on board, two into each; one hundred and fifty men embarked in them and
the other craft, which I found partly loaded with sacks of corn. I was in
one of the smallest boats with the colonel. When we were all ready to
shove off, "Lafont," he said, "are the men ready with their couteaux?"
"They are, sir," replied the sergeant.
"Then cut the horses' throats--but no firing." A few bubbling groans, and
some heavy falls, and a struggling splash or two in the water, showed that
the poor artillery horses had been destroyed.
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