by Griff Hosker
The colonel had calmed somewhat since his outburst. He came over to me and offered me one of his precious cigars. "That was damned brave of you, Robbie; stupid but damned brave. I see now why you have been so successful over the years." I lit the cigar from a burning twig. "Can you be sure that we will be ahead of him?"
"He is travelling in a coach and if you look at the map it is a longer route by the bridge. Once we have crossed the Vienne then we can rejoin the road. I will wager you a gold piece that we reach Rochefort before he does."
He grinned and held out his hand. "Done!"
The river was not wide and there was a mud bank half way across but it was fairly fast flowing. "Sergeant, have you done a deep ford before?"
"Just the once. "
"Then you and I will cross first. If we go downstream we can catch any chicks who fall from the nest." I turned to the others, "This is easy, at least it is for the horses. However they are more intelligent than the troopers who ride them!" I was pleased that they laughed. "When you go in the water slip your feet from your stirrups and try to lie flat. It will be easier for the horse. They will swim but talk to them and keep talking to them. It is reassuring for them. Colonel Selkirk, I want you to go in the middle and Lieutenant Howard at the rear. The sergeant and I will go first. Do not, under any circumstances, stop once you are in the river. That would be fatal!"
I spurred Pierre to the water's edge. Surprisingly he stepped in straight away. After drinking a little his head came up and I slapped his rump. He began to walk. Within a few steps the bottom had disappeared and he began to swim. I shouted, "This part is deep. Remember that!" Lying flat on his back I glanced over my shoulder and saw that the sergeant was also in the water. When we reached the mud bank Pierre clambered across it. The other side was narrower and he did not need to swim as far. Once ashore I jumped down and allowed Pierre to shake himself like a dog. The sergeant had slipped from the saddle and lost the reins but he was hanging on to the saddle with one hand. I ran into the shallows and began to call for the horse. His hooves found purchase and I grabbed the reins and pulled the horse's head. He made it ashore.
The sergeant looked annoyed with himself. "Thanks sir. If one of the lads had done that he would have had a bollocking!"
"Well at least you can tell them how to avoid it eh? Next pair!"
I think that the troopers took some comfort in the sergeant's slip and the next four made it without difficulty. When it was the colonel's turn my heart was in my mouth. "Joe, take two of the troopers and go down stream in case the colonel slips."
"Righto sir. There are some rocks down there. That might be a good spot." Picking up a fallen branch of a tree they ran downstream.
The colonel did the hard part. He negotiated the deep water and then the sandbank. I think he must have become over confident for I saw him smiling. He lost his grip on the reins and unlike the sergeant he did not manage to grab the saddle. He was swept downstream. Freed from the burden of a rider the horse made the shore and clambered up the bank.
"Next pair!"
I kept one eye on the colonel. I saw that one of the troopers was leaning out and holding the eight foot branch while Joe and the other trooper held his belt tightly. Four more troopers crossed before the colonel managed to arrest his voyage of discovery by grabbing the branch. I was relieved. I did not want to lose anyone on this, my last mission.
By the time the four of them had returned the whole troop was across. "We have no time to waste. Mount up. We will dry as we ride."
We were so close to our destination that I risked our horses and we pushed on. We reached the outskirts of Niort before midnight. We had, according to the road marker, just fourteen miles to go. I risked a longer rest. The men had not eaten all day and were dead on their feet. We did not even make a camp; the men collapsed next to their horses. I went with Sergeant Gargery to the road. We were the only two still awake.
"You ought to sleep, sir. We will be needing you tomorrow I daresay."
I shook my head. "I can sleep when all of this is over. I have much to finish first."
This is personal isn't it, sir? You and Bonaparte, I mean."
"Yes, sergeant."
He shook his head. "He ruled half the world and you knew him and Old Nosey too!"
"They are both just men, Joe."
"No sir, I can't believe that. Old Nosey, he is special. We all know that if he is in command, sat on Copenhagen all calm as you like then we have a good chance of winning. We know that some won't survive. That is in the nature of fighting but a soldier likes to win. I reckon that is why Boney is so popular too. He always won."
"Until he met the Duke."
"You are right there sir. He met the Duke and he met his match." He shook his head and left, "Goodnight sir."
I did not sleep. The game was almost over. I could sleep then. I woke them all before dawn. "You let me sleep sir, you should have woken me."
"When you get older, Johnny, you do not need as much sleep. You and your troopers will need to be as sharp as tacks today. Do not underestimate the Guard. They are good." I paused, "I know for once I was one of them."
His jaw actually dropped open, "You were one of Bonaparte's Guards?"
I smiled; now that it was almost over there was no need for secrets. "When we have time I shall tell you all. I want no more deaths, either French or English. Stay sharp."
"I will, sir, you can rely on me!"
We reached Rochefort by nine o'clock and we saw neither carriage nor ship. We had beaten Bonaparte to the port. Once we arrived then Colonel Selkirk came into his own. "Well done Robbie! I never doubted you! I shall find out about the proximity of Royal Naval vessels." He looked over to the Customs House and then back at me. I knew what he was thinking.
"Sergeant Gargery, "Two troopers to watch the Colonel's back if you please."
"Yes sir!"
My old spymaster actually smiled and patted my arm, "You are reading my mind. I shall miss you, you know." He strode off with his escort.
It was almost as if it was over and I knew that it wasn't. "Lieutenant Howard, I want every horse out of sight. There should be no sign of us."
"Sir!"
I waved Sergeant Gargery over. "We need to be able to surround this harbour and stop anyone leaving."
He nodded. "Four men over there sir two on either side of that road. It is the only way in and out."
"I want you there then, Sergeant. When the Emperor arrives I don't want him running away. Have someone watching the road so that we get warning. Just whistle and wave your arm as a signal that the carriage is coming."
He nodded and scanned the harbour. "There is a wagon there. I shall commandeer it. When he enters I'll block the road." He smiled, "The lads'll have their pistols and carbines loaded this time, sir."
"You are a good man sergeant."
He shook his head, "Let's just say that I am learning and getting better at it." He shouted, "Oi, you three follow me."
I saw four National Guardsmen coming towards me. Lieutenant Howard and the rest of the troop were coming from the opposite direction. I knew that this could be a tricky situation and I was determined to handle it calmly. I had no need for deception. I was there legitimately. I had yet to use Wellington's authorisation but I would if I needed to.
It was a sergeant with three men. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
I sensed confusion rather than anger. "I am Major Matthews attached to the Duke of Wellington's staff and I am here to apprehend Napoleon Bonaparte. He is to be arrested." I spoke slowly and clearly so that there could be no mistake. "You know that the Emperor has abdicated." He nodded, "And that there are four armies who are here to ensure the war is over." Again he nodded. I saw that the muskets were no longer levelled as they had been. "There is no need for useless heroics. You have done your duty." They all nodded and their guns were lowered. These were not front line soldiers and the twenty horsemen were a large enough threat. I did not need to say anythin
g else. "Have you seen any warships?"
"There was a British ship which entered the harbour and then left. That was yesterday."
"Good. I would keep you and your men away from here. I want no trouble but he has Chasseurs with him. Enough have died already."
"Yes sir." He saluted. "It is over then?"
"It is over, sergeant."
He led the men away. I saw them go into a small bar. Their brazier still burned away; the evidence of their night time diligence.
I turned to the Lieutenant. "I want you and your men hidden around here." I waved around the dock area. There were many places were the troopers could hide. "The sergeant has the entrance covered. I want the Chasseurs to have weapons aimed at them when they arrive but listen for my command. I need you and your men to be both calm and controlled. If they are calm and committed then the Chasseurs will be less belligerent. Take your lead from me."
"Yes sir. We will be ready."
The colonel hurried over to us. "Good news. H.M.S. Bellephron is at the estuary. The customs fellow was very helpful," he smiled wryly, "once I had greased his palm. They are loaning me the pilot's cutter and I am going out to bring her in. Are you happy to be left here?"
"Do not worry, Colonel Selkirk, I can manage. Bonaparte will not escape."
I watched him descend into the small ship and it sailed down the river towards the sea. There was a small wooden hut and a pile of ropes at the end of the jetty and I chose that as my seat. I found the tobacco Sharp and I had purchased in Mauberge a lifetime ago. I filled the pipe I occasionally used and wandered over to the brazier. There were some tapers close by and I used one to light my pipe. I returned to the rope and sat there.
It was actually quite peaceful. Perhaps it might have been noisier had we arrived earlier but most people had concluded their business and left. The puddles on the pavement showed where the fish had been sold but they too had gone. Our presence, threatening as it was, had cleared the harbour. There was danger coming and the people of Rochefort had learned to keep their heads down.
Suddenly the peace was shattered by a whistle. I looked up and saw Sergeant Gargery waving his arm. Bonaparte was coming. I kept my head down so that my face was hidden and smoked the last of the tobacco. I heard the clatter of the horses and the rumble of the wheels as the carriage and Chasseurs approached. Still keeping my head down I stood and tapped out the spent ash from my pipe on the heel of my boot. The carriage horses were less than ten feet away.
I raised my head and saw that there were just six Chasseurs who remained. Three were wounded but they all held pistols which were pointed in my direction. I held my hands out to the side. The driver and the carriage guard jumped down and, while one put the step down, the other opened the door.
A very crumpled figure in a green coat with the familiar hat stepped down. He looked into my eyes. He actually smiled, "So Robbie, it comes full circle. You were there at the start and you are here at the end." He strode over to me and I saw excitement in his face. "Now you can join me. The Americans are not my enemies. I sold them our lands in that wilderness of theirs and I will make a home there. When my men join me we will build up our army once more and this time it will have all the resources of the New World to hand. Come this will be a great adventure."
I shook my head. "It is over, sir. The Prussians want you dead. They would have a public execution. None of us want that do we?"
"If I am in America then they cannot reach me."
"And unless you can walk on water then you cannot reach America. The Duke of Wellington would not have you executed but he would have you imprisoned. He cannot have you beginning another war. It is over sir. I am here to secure you."
The six pistols were all ominously cocked. Bonaparte looked around and said mockingly, "On your own? You have courage my friend but these soldiers will blast you where you stand."
I nodded. "Lieutenant Howard!" Suddenly the troop of Hussars appeared. The Chasseurs saw immediately that they were surrounded. They had me covered but that made them easy to contain. They looked at the road down which they had travelled and saw that the sergeant had blocked it with a wagon. They were trapped. My plan had worked.
The lieutenant of Chasseurs looked to the Emperor who waved his hands indicating that they were to lower their guns. They did so.
"A wise move, lieutenant. Have your men dismount. There is a water trough over there I am certain your horses will be thirsty." He nodded, "Sergeant Gargery, I have told them to water their horses. Watch them please."
Lieutenant Howard joined me. I could see that he was curious about this most famous of men. Bonaparte came and linked his arm in mine. "Let us walk, Robbie, and you can tell me about this prison." I began to walk and he suddenly said, "It was you and these men at Malmaison! It was not robbers as I was told. I should have known. It had your style all over it."
"And we would be there yet if the Prussians had not come."
"You drove away their horses?"
I nodded, "My orders were to secure you. I did not wish to fight my former allies." He stopped. We were at the edge of the river and I wondered if he considered jumping in and ending it. Then I realised that this was Napoleon Bonaparte. He would still be planning his return.
"So then, where is my new home to be? Elba again?"
"You are to be taken to St. Helena."
"St. Helena? Is that close to Italy?"
"No, it is in the middle of the Atlantic. You will be a prisoner but in a gilded cage."
His shoulders slumped. "Then this is over. When will I be taken there?" I pointed to the mouth of the estuary. There were the sails of the Bellephron in the distance. She was tacking her way closer to us. "That soon?"
"It is better that way. The Prussians want revenge. We can protect you there. We still rule the waves."
"You do, " he said bitterly, "your Nelson saw to that. I was within a whisker of invading!"
I remembered Nelson. He, like Sir John Moore, had been a charismatic leader and like Sir John he too had given his life for his country. "You could never have invaded England. It was a dream. You understand the land but not the sea."
"Wisdom too. But you are probably right." He suddenly looked to sea. "The Bellephron you say? That ship has dogged me for many years." He laughed wryly, "An appropriate end." He looked at me and seemed to study my face. "Your Duke of Wellington is an interesting commander. He sits on his backside to fight a battle. Yet his men do not run. How did he do that? I was certain that my horsemen would sweep your redcoats and the rag tag army from the ridge but they did not."
"He is a good general. You two are very similar. And those rag tag soldiers might have been inexperienced but they were fighting to defend their land." I felt a little sorry for this man. He did not yet understand his own victories. "Tell me, sir, where were your greatest victories?"
"Why Italy of course! Marengo was a magnificent achievement!"
"And there you were giving hope to the Italians for they wished to be freed from the yoke of Austria. The same is true at Austerlitz. But Spain and Portugal were your undoing were they not? They did not want what you offered and then you tried to defeat nature in Russia. No, General Bonaparte, you forgot that people do not want to have one tyrant replace one they already had."
"Philosophy too. I should never have let you go." We both turned as we heard the commands given aboard the seventy four gunship which was ghosting in to the harbour wall. He turned to his driver, "Get my bags. These will be my last steps in France. May I speak with my Chasseurs?"
"Of course but do not try anything silly. I would hate to have to shoot you. You would not be dead merely crippled and retirement with a whole body might be better eh?"
"Wise and cruel. Did I make you what you have become?"
"No, sir, the war did that." Lieutenant Howard stepped closer to me. "Did you get all that Johnny?"
"Most of it sir." He shook his head. "I shall dine out on these stories in London. I was within a few feet of the
most powerful man in Europe."
"And at the end, Johnny, he commands eight men. Look at your troop. I know that they would follow you against the whole Prussian army. Who has more you or him?"
The gangplank was lowered as Bonaparte came back. "I have told my Chasseurs to return home. Let them go eh, Robbie, for old times' sake?"
I nodded, "Of course. They were just doing their duty. And these two?"
"They will be with me. They are loyal servants and they would serve me yet."
"Lieutenant go and tell the Chasseurs that they are free to go."
Colonel Selkirk, Captain Maitland and six marines walked from the ship towards us. The Emperor turned to me and, grasping my shoulders, kissed me on both cheeks. "I should have made sure you stayed close to me, Scotsman. Your advice was ever sage. Will you visit me on my rock?"
"No sir. My war ends here. You were the last task I undertook." I detected sadness in his face when I said that.
"Well done, Major Matthews. I'll take it from here." The colonel was back in his comfort zone. He would take charge now.
And that was the last I saw of either the Emperor or Colonel Selkirk. They boarded the ship which left before the tide turned. Neither even waved but why should they? I was no one important. I had served them both and helped both men get what they wanted.
"What do we do about this carriage sir?"
"Well, Sergeant Gargery, I put this under the spoils of war category. I would suggest that you and the other troopers sell it and share the proceeds."
The sergeant looked at the Lieutenant who nodded and then back at me, "Is that an order, Major Matthews?"
"It is my last order, Sergeant Gargery!"
Epilogue
D'Alpini estate 1821
Alan and I were sipping the new wine when young Cesar, now a man grown, ran in with the newspaper. Napoleon is dead! He has died on the island of St. Helena!"
I looked at Alan, "Well, it is finally over. I always wondered if he would find some way to come back and start again."
Alan tapped the newspaper with his good hand. "Well there is plenty of unrest in France."