They would learn that Etienne Gerard was not a
safe man to hunt. My hand felt for my sword, but you can imagine
my feelings, my friends, when I came upon an empty scabbard. It
had been shaken out when the horse had tripped over that infernal
pig. On what absurd trifles do our destinies hang--a pig on one
side, Etienne Gerard on the other! Could I spring over the wall
and get the sword? Impossible! The Prussians were already in
the yard. I turned my Arab and resumed my flight.
But for a moment it seemed to me that I was in a far worse trap
than before. I found myself in the garden of the farm-house, an
orchard in the centre and flower- beds all round. A high wall
surrounded the whole place. I reflected, however, that there
must be some point of entrance, since every visitor could not be
expected to spring over the pig-sty. I rode round the wall. As
I expected, I came upon a door with a key upon the inner side. I
dismounted, unlocked it, opened it, and there was a Prussian
Lancer sitting his horse within six feet of me.
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