The Invasion of France in 1814 by Erckmann-Chatrian

  CHAPTER V

  THE DEPOT

  When Jean-Claude Hullin, in his shirt-sleeves, opened the shutters ofhis little house the next morning, he saw all the neighboringmountains--the Jaegerthal, the Grosmann, the Donon--covered with snow.This first appearance of winter, coming in our sleep, is very strikingto us: the old pines, the mossy rocks, adorned only the night beforewith verdure, and now sparkling with rime, fill our souls with anindefinable sadness. "Another year gone by," one says to one's self;"another hard season to pass before the return of the flowers!" Andone hastens to put on the great-coat and to light the fire. Yoursombre habitation is filled with a white light, and outside, for thefirst time, you hear the sparrows--the poor sparrows huddled under thethatch, their feathers ruffled--calling, "No breakfast this morning--nobreakfast!"

  Hullin drew on his big iron-nailed, double-soled shoes, and over hisvest a great thick cloth waistcoat.

  He heard Louise walking overhead in the little garret.

  "Louise," he cried, "I am going."

  "What! you are going away to-day also?"

  "Yes, my child: it must be so: my affairs are not yet finished."

  Then, having doffed his large hat, he went up the stair, and said, in alow tone: "Thou must not expect me back so soon, my child. I have tomake some distant rounds. Do not be uneasy. If any one ask where Iam, thou art to reply, 'He is with Cousin Mathias at Saverne.'"

  "You will not have breakfast before leaving?"

  "No: I have a crust of bread and the small flask of brandy in mypocket. Adieu, my child! Rejoice, and dream of Gaspard."

  And, without waiting for fresh questions, he took his stick and leftthe house, going in the direction of the hill of Bouleaux to the leftof the village. In a quarter of an hour he had passed it by, andreached the path of the Trois-Fontaines, which winds round theFalkenstein along by a little wall of dry stones. The first snow,which never lasts in the damp shades of the valleys, was beginning tomelt and run down the path. Hullin got on the wall to climb theascent. On giving an accidental look toward the village, he saw a fewwomen sweeping before their doors, a few old men wishing each other the"Good-day" while smoking their first pipes on the threshold of theircottages. The deep calm of life, in presence of his agitatingthoughts, affected him much. He continued his way pensively, saying tohimself, "How quiet everything is down there! Nobody has any idea ofanything; yet in a few days, what clamors, what rolls of musketry, willrend the air!"

  As the first thing to be done was to procure powder, Catherine Lefevrehad very naturally cast her eyes on Marc Dives the smuggler, and hisvirtuous spouse, Hexe-Baizel.

  These people lived on the other side of the Falkenstein, under the baseof the old ruined castle. They had hollowed inside a sort of den, verycomfortable, possessing one door and two skylights, but according tocertain rumors, communicating with ancient caves by a rift in the rock.The custom-house officers had never been able to discover these caves,notwithstanding numerous domiciliary visits for that purpose.Jean-Claude and Marc Dives had known each other from infancy; they hadgone nesting together after hawks and owls, and since that time hadseen each other nearly every week at the saw-mills of Valtin. Hullin,therefore, believed himself sure of the smuggler, but he had somedoubts of Madame Hexe-Baizel, a most cautious person, who would not, inall probability, have the war-like instinct sufficiently developed."But we shall see," he said to himself as he went along.

  He had lit his pipe, and from time to time turned round to contemplatethe immense landscape, whose limits were extending more and more.

  Nothing could be grander than those wooded mountains, rising one abovethe other in the pale sky--those vast heather plains, stretching as faras the eye could see, white with snow; those black ravines, shut inbetween the woods, with torrents at the bottom, dashing over thegreenish pebbles polished like bronze.

  And then the silence--the great silence of winter! The soft snowfalling from the top of the loftiest pine-trees onto their lowerdrooping branches: the birds of prey circling in couples above theforests, screaming out their war-cry: all this ought to be seen for itcannot be described.

  An hour after his departure from the village of Charmes, Hullin,climbing the summit of the peak, reached the base of the rock of theArbousiers. All round this granite mass extends a sort of ruggedterrace, three or four feet wide. This narrow passage, surrounded bythe tall pines growing out from the precipice, looks dangerous, but itis safe; unless one feels dizzy, there is no danger in going along it.Overhead projects, in a vaulted arch, the rock covered with ruins.

  Jean-Claude was approaching the retreat of the smuggler. He halted aminute on the terrace, put back his pipe into his pocket, then advancedalong the passage, which forms a half-circle, and ends on the otherside with a chasm. Quite at the farthest extremity of it, and almoston the edge of the chasm, he perceived the two skylight windows of theden and the partly opened door. A great heap of manure was collectedin front of it.

  At the same time Hexe-Baizel appeared, tossing, with a broom made ofgreen furze, the manure into the abyss. This woman was small andhard-looking; she had shaggy red hair, hollow cheeks, pointed nose,little eyes, bright like two sparks, thin lips, very white teeth, and aflorid complexion. As for her costume, it was composed of a shortdirty woollen petticoat, and a coarse but clean chemise; her brown,muscular arms, covered with yellow hairs, were bare to the elbows,notwithstanding the excessive cold of the winter at this height; and,lastly, all she had on her feet were a pair of long shoes hanging inshreds.

  "Ha! good-day, Hexe-Baizel," Jean-Claude called out, good naturedly butwith a tone of raillery. "You are always fair and fat, happy andlively! It gives me pleasure!"

  Hexe-Baizel turned sharply, like a weasel surprised on the watch; herred hair stiffened, and her little eyes flashed fire. However, shecalmed down immediately, and exclaimed, in a curt voice, as thoughspeaking to herself, "Hullin--the shoemaker! What does he want?"

  "I am come to see my friend Marc, fair Hexe-Baizel," repliedJean-Claude; "we have some business to settle together."

  "What business?"

  "Ah, it only concerns us. Here let me pass that I may speak to him."

  "Marc is asleep."

  "Well, he must be awakened then; the time is precious."

  So saying, Hullin stooped under the door, and penetrated into a cavern,whose vault, instead of being round, was composed of irregular curves,scored with fissures. Close to the entrance, two feet from the ground,the rock formed a sort of natural fireplace, on which burned a fewcoals and branches of juniper. Hexe-Baizel's culinary utensilsconsisted of an iron kettle, a stone pot, two broken plates, and threeor four tin forks; her furniture comprised a wooden stool, a hatchet tosplit wood, a salt box fastened to the rock, and her large furze broom.To the left of this kitchen was another cavern, with a curious door,larger at the top than at the bottom, closing by aid of two planks anda cross-bar.

  "Well, where is Marc?" said Hullin, seating himself near the hearth.

  "I have already told you that he is asleep. He returned home lateyesterday. My husband must sleep, don't you hear?"

  "I hear very well, dear Hexe-Baizel; but I have no time to wait."

  "Then go away!"

  "Go away? It is easy said; only I won't go away. I did not walk threemiles, to turn back with my hands in my pockets."

  "Is it thou, Hullin?" interrupted a brusque voice coming from theneighboring cavern.

  "Yes, Marc."

  "Ah! I'm coming."

  The sound of straw in motion could be heard; then the wooden barrierwas withdrawn; and a huge frame, three feet broad from one shoulder tothe other, wiry, bony, with neck and ears brick-color, and thick brownhair, appeared in the doorway, and Marc Dives drew himself up beforeHullin, yawning and stretching his long arms with a short sigh.

  At first sight, the physiognomy of Marc Dives seemed peaceable enough:his low broad forehead, bare temples, short curly hair coming down in apoint almost to the eyebrow
s, his straight nose and long chin--aboveall the quiet expression in his brown eyes--would have caused him to beclassed among the ruminating rather than the wilder animals; but onewould have been wrong in thinking so. Certain rumors were prevalent inthe country that Marc Dives, when attacked by the custom-house people,had never any hesitation to use his axe or carbine to decide thedispute; to him were attributed several serious accidents which hadhappened to the fiscal agents; but proofs were completely wanting. Thesmuggler, owing to his thorough knowledge of all the mountain defilesand by-roads from Dagsburg to Sarrbrueck, and from Raon-l'Etape to Balein Switzerland, was always fifteen leagues from any place where awicked action had been committed. And then he had such an ingenuouslook! and those who connected him with sinister tales generallyfinished badly: which clearly shows the justice with which Providencesways the world.

  "Faith, Hullin," said Marc, after having left his lair, "I was thinkingof thee yesterday evening, and if thou hadst not appeared, I shouldhave gone expressly to the saw-mills of Valtin to meet thee. Sit down!Hexe-Baizel, give a chair to Hullin!"

  Then he placed himself on the hearth, his back to the fire, in front ofthe open door, which was raked by all the winds of Alsace andSwitzerland.

  Through this opening there was a magnificent view: it might be comparedto a picture framed in the rock--an enormous picture, embracing thewhole valley of the Rhine, and the mountains beyond, which melted awayin the mist. And then one could breathe so freely! and the littlefire, which glimmered in the owl's-nest, was a place to look on, withits red light, after one had gazed into the azure expanse.

  "Marc," said Hullin, after a short pause, "may I speak before thy wife?"

  "We are as one, she and I."

  "Well, Marc, I am come to buy powder and lead of thee."

  "To kill hares, is it not so?" observed the smuggler, winking.

  "No, to fight against the Germans and Russians."

  There was a moment's silence.

  "And thou wilt want much powder and lead?"

  "All that thou canst supply."

  "I can supply as much as three thousand francs' worth to-day," said thesmuggler.

  "Then I'll take it."

  "And as much more in a week," added Marc, with the same calm manner andeager look.

  "I take that also."

  "You will take it!" cried Hexe-Baizel. "You will take it! I shouldthink so! But who is to pay?"

  "Hold thy tongue!" said Marc, roughly, "Hullin takes it: and his wordis enough for me." And holding out his large hand cordially:"Jean-Claude, here is my hand: the powder and lead are thine: but Imust have my price, dost thou understand?"

  "Yes, Marc: only I intend paying thee at once."

  "He will pay, Hexe-Baizel, dost thou hear?"

  "Eh, I am not deaf, Baizel. Go and find a bottle of 'brimbelle-wasse'for us, so that we may warm our hearts a little. What Hullin tells merejoices me. These rascally 'kaiserlichs' will not have the easy gameagainst us that I thought. It appears that we are going to defendourselves, and right well."

  "Yes, right well!"

  "And there are people who can pay?"

  "Catherine Lefevre pays, and she it is who sends me," said Hullin.

  Then Marc Dives rose, and in a solemn tone, and pointing toward theprecipice, exclaimed, "She is a woman indeed--a woman as grand as thatrock down there, the Oxenstein, the greatest I have ever seen in mylife. I drink to her health. Drink also, Jean-Claude."

  Hullin drank, then Hexe-Baizel.

  "Now everything has been said," continued Dives; "but listen, Hullin.Do not believe that it will be an easy matter to check the enemy: allthe hunters, all the sawyers, all the wood-cutters and carriers on themountains will not be too many. I come from the other side of theRhine. They are so many--those Russians, Austrians, Bavarians,Prussians, Cossacks, and Hussars--they are so many, that the earth isblack with them. The villages cannot hold them: they camp on theplains, in the valleys, on the hills, in the towns, in the openair--they are to be found everywhere."

  At that moment a shrill cry was heard.

  "It is a buzzard chasing something," said Marc, stopping.

  But just then a shadow came over the rock. A cloud of chaffinchescleared the abyss, and hundreds of buzzards and hawks fought above themin their rapid flight, uttering loud screams to terrify their prey,while the mass seemed stationary, so dense was it. The regularmovement of these thousands of wings produced, in the silence, a soundlike that of dead leaves blown in the wind.

  "That is the departure of the chaffinches of the Ardennes," said Hullin.

  "Yes, it is the last passage: the beech-nuts are buried under the snow,and the seeds also. Well, then, look! there are more men over therethan birds in this pass. All the same, Jean-Claude, we will get overthem, so long as every one bears a hand in it! Hexe-Baizel, light thelantern: I am going to show Hullin our supplies of powder and lead."

  Hexe-Baizel made a face at this proposition. "For twenty years," saidshe, "no one has gone into the cave. He can surely believe our word.We believe, for our part, that he will pay us. I will not light thelantern--no, indeed!"

  Marc, without saying anything, put out his hand and caught up a cudgelfrom the pile of wood; thereupon the old woman darted into the nearesthole like a weasel, and, two seconds later, came out with a big hornlantern, which Dives quietly lit at the fire on the hearth.

  "Baizel," said he, replacing the stick in its corner, "thou must knowthat Jean-Claude is an old friend of my childhood, and that I confidemuch more in him than in thee, old wench; for wert thou not afraid ofbeing hanged the same day as myself, I should long ago have beenswinging to a rope's end. Come, Hullin, follow me."

  They went out, and the smuggler, turning to the left, walked straighttoward the chasm, which projected over the Valtin two hundred feet inthe air. He pushed aside the branches of a little oak, which had itsroots down below, put forth his leg, and disappeared as though pitchedinto the abyss. Jean-Claude shuddered, but directly after he saw,against the side of the rock, the head of Dives, who called tohim,--"Hullin, put out thy hand to the left--there is a hole. Stretchthy leg out boldly--thou wilt feel a step, and then turn around."

  Master Jean-Claude obeyed, with some trepidation. He could feel thehole in the rock, he found the step, and turning slightly, was face toface with his comrade in a sort of arched niche, evidently abutting ona sally-port in times past. At the end of the niche there was a lowvault.

  "How the devil didst thou discover that?" exclaimed Hullin, muchastonished.

  "In seeking after nests thirty-five years ago. I was one day on therock, and I had often observed flying from there a horned-owl and itsmate, two splendid birds: their heads were the size of my fists, andthe wings six feet broad. I could hear their young calling, and I saidto myself, 'They are near the cavern, at the end of the terrace. If Icould get round a little beyond the chasm I should have them! By dintof looking and bending over, I perceived at last a corner of the stepabove the precipice. There was a strong holly-bush at one side. Icaught hold of it, put out my leg, and, faith, I found myself here.What a fight, Hullin! The old birds wanted to tear out my eyes.Luckily, it was broad daylight. They went at me like cocks, openedtheir beaks and hissed, but the sun dazzled them. I kicked them.Finally, they fell on to the top of an old pine-tree down there, andall the jays in the country, the thrushes, chaffinches and tom-tits,flew about them till nightfall, plucking out their feathers. Thoucanst not imagine, Jean-Claude, the quantity of bones, rat-skins,leverets, and carrion of all sorts that they had heaped up in thisniche. It was pestilential. I threw it all into the Jaegerthal, and Idiscovered this passage. But I must also tell thee that there were twoyoung ones. I twisted their necks and poked them into my bag.Afterward, I quietly entered, and thou shalt see what I found. Come!"

  They slipped under the narrow archway, formed of enormous red stones,where the light threw only a flickering glimmer.

  Thirty paces farther on, a vast circular
cave, low in the middle, andformed in the rock itself, appeared to Hullin. About fifty littlecasks were arranged at the bottom in shape of pyramids, and, at thesides, a large number of ingots of lead and bales of tobacco, whichfilled the air with its smell. Marc deposited his lantern at theentrance of the vault, and regarded his hiding-place with gratificationand a smile upon his lips.

  "That is what I discovered," said he; "the cave was empty, only in thecentre of it was the carcass of an animal, snowy white,--no doubt somefox, dead of old age. The rascal had known of the passage before Ihad. He slept safely here. Who on earth would have dreamed ofpursuing him? In those days, Hullin, I was twelve years old. Iimmediately thought that this place might one day be of use to me. Idid not know then what use. But, later on, when I had begun my firstattempts at smuggling--at Landau, Kehl, Bale--with Jacob Zimmer, andduring two winters all the custom-house people were after us, the ideaof my old cavern began to haunt me from morning till evening. I hadmade the acquaintance of Hexe-Baizel, who was then one of thefarm-servants at Bois-de-Chenes with Catherine's father. She broughtme twenty-five louis as marriage-portion, and we settled ourselves inthe cavern of the Arbousiers."

  Dives paused; and Hullin, who had become very thoughtful, askedhim,--"This hole, then, pleases thee much, Marc?"

  "Pleases me! Why, I would not go and live in the most beautiful housein Strasbourg for two thousand pounds a year. For twenty-three years Ihave here hidden my wares: sugar, coffee, powder, tobacco,brandy--everything goes in here. I have eight horses alwaystravelling."

  "But thou hast no happiness."

  "I have no happiness! Dost thou think it is nothing to laugh at thegendarmes, excisemen, custom-house people; to enrage them, to outdothem, to hear on all sides, 'That rascally Marc--isn't he a sharp one!How he manages his business! He can do as he likes with the law andits agents,' and this and that. He! he! he! I can tell thee, I can,that it is the greatest pleasure in the world. And then the peoplelike it: they get everything half price; one helps the poor, and keepshimself warm and well-off."

  "Yes, but what dangers!"

  "Bah! a customs'-guard would never think of crossing the chasm."

  "I should suppose not," thought Hullin, remembering that he must crossthe precipice again.

  "At the same time thou art not altogether wrong, Jean-Claude. When Ifirst had to enter this place with those little barrels on my back, Istreamed with perspiration; now I am accustomed to it."

  "And if thy foot slipped?"

  "There would be an end of me! I would as soon die, spiked on a pine,as to cough weeks and months on a mattress."

  Dives then shed the light of his lantern on the piles of kegs reachingto the top of the vault.

  "It is the finest English powder," said he; "it runs like silver grainsin the hand, and fires like Old Nick. No need to use much of it--athimbleful is enough. And here is lead, unmixed with tin. From thisvery evening, Hexe-Baizel shall begin casting balls. She knows allabout it, thou wilt see."

  They were beginning to return by the path leading to the chasm, whensuddenly a confused murmur of words began to fill the air. Marc blewout his lantern, and they stopped still in the darkness.

  "Some one is walking up there," the smuggler softly said. "Who onearth has been able to climb up the Falkenstein in such snow?"

  They listened, holding their breath, and their eyes fixed on the ray ofbluish light which came down through a small chink into the cavern.Around the cleft grew a few shrubs, sparkling with frost; above, couldbe perceived the ridge of an old wall. While they were watching,keeping profound silence, there appeared at the foot of the wall alarge shaggy head bound round with a shining circle, a long face, thena pointed red beard,--the whole standing out in curious relief againstthe white winter sky.

  "It is 'The King of Diamonds,'" observed Marc, laughing.

  "Poor devil!" said Hullin, gravely; "he has come to walk about hiscastle, his bare feet on the ice, and a tin crown on his head! Butlook! he is speaking: he is giving orders to his courtiers; he pointswith his sceptre to the north and to the south--all belongs to him; heis master of the heavens and earth! Poor devil! merely to see him inthose trousers of his, with his dog-skin on his back, makes me cold allover."

  "Yes, Jean-Claude, it produces on me the effect of a burgomaster orvillage mayor, who puffs himself out like a bullfinch, and blows hischeeks up, saying, 'I am Hans Aden; I have ten acres of fine meadows; Ihave two houses; I have a vineyard, an orchard, a garden, h-m! h-m! Ihave this and that!' The next day a little fit lays hold of him,and--good-evening. Mad, mad! who is not mad? Let us go, Hullin; thesight of this unfortunate who talks to the winds, and of his raven thatcroaks of famine, makes my teeth chatter."

  They entered the passage, and the daylight almost blinded Hullin.Happily, the great height of his companion standing in front of him,prevented his becoming giddy.

  "Lean firmly," said Marc; "imitate me: the right hand in the hole, theright foot on the step, turn a bit--here we are!"

  They returned to the kitchen, where Hexe-Baizel told them that Yegofwas in the ruins of the old _Burg_.

  "We knew it," replied Marc: "we have just seen him breathing the freshair over there. Each man to his taste."

  Just then the raven Hans, sailing above the abyss, passed the door witha hoarse cry; they heard the frost crackling on the bushes, and themadman appeared upon the terrace. He was haggard; and after glancingtoward the hearth, cried out--"Marc Dives, clear out quickly. I warnthee I am tired of this disorder. The fortifications of my domainsought to be free. I cannot allow vermin to lodge where I am;consequently, thou must make thy arrangements." Then perceivingJean-Claude, his face brightened--"Thou here, Hullin?" said he, "Artthou at length clear-sighted enough to accept the proposals that I havecondescended to make thee? Dost thou feel that an alliance such asmine, is the only resource to preserve thee from the total destructionof thy race? If it is so, I congratulate thee; thou showest more sensethan I gave thee credit for."

  Hullin could not help laughing.

  "No, Yegof, no! heaven has not yet enlightened me, or I might acceptthe honor thou wouldst make me. Besides, Louise is not old enough tobe married."

  The madman became again serious and gloomy. Standing on the edge ofthe terrace, his back to the abyss, he seemed quite at home, and hisraven, hovering from right to left, did not trouble him.

  He raised his sceptre, frowned, and exclaimed:

  "Then this is the second time, Hullin, that I have made my demand, andfor the second time thou darest refuse me. Now, I will renew it onceagain--once, dost thou hear? Then the fate shall be accomplished!"

  Hullin, Marc Dives, and Hexe-Baizel herself burst into fits of laughter.

  "He is a great madman," said Hexe-Baizel.

  "I think thou art right there," replied the smuggler. "Poor Yegof!decidedly he is out of his wits. But never mind! Baizel, attend tome. Thou must commence melting balls of all sizes. I am going tostart for Switzerland. In a week, at latest, the remainder of ourammunition will be here. Give me my boots."

  Then stamping down his heels, and twisting round his neck a thick scarfof red wool, he unhooked from the wall one of those dark-green mantlessuch as herdsmen wear, threw it over his shoulders, put on an old wornhat, took a gourd, and shouted: "Don't forget what I have been tellingthee, old woman, or beware! Let us go, Jean-Claude!"

  Hullin followed him on the terrace without wishing good-by toHexe-Baizel, who, for her part, did not deign even to go to thedoorstep to see them depart. When they were come to the base of therock, Marc Dives drew up and said, "Thou art going into the mountainvillages, art thou not, Hullin?"

  "Yes: that must first be done. I must warn the wood-cutters,charcoal-burners, and others, of what is going on."

  "Without doubt. Do not forget Materne of Hengst and his two boys,Labarbe of Dagsburg, and Jerome of St. Quirin. Tell them that therewill he powder and balls; that we are of the number, Catherine Lefevre,myself, Marc Di
ves, and all the honest folks of the country."

  "Calm thyself, Marc--I know my men."

  "Then good-by for the present."

  They shook hands warmly.

  The smuggler took the path to the right, toward Donon; Hullin that tothe left, toward the Sarre.

  They were now at some distance from each other, when Hullin called outto his comrade: "He! Marc, inform Catherine Lefevre, as thou passestby, that all goes on well. Tell her I am going into the mountains."

  The other assented by a nod, and they both continued their differentways.