1831.] The Wife of the Polish Patriot. 381^ 



manly encouragement "and your troubles will, I hope, be ended; 

 Yonder is the country of your brave husband's friends. Our adversaries 

 have left the way to it clear. Ere sunset, I trust you may find a situa- 

 tion better fitting your sex and rank. At present, farewell ! And do 

 you, as French drivers, look to your conduct, and count on your pro- 

 mised reward." 



The unexpected and impolitic retreat of the Russians, and the hitherto 

 successful passage of the troops, now caused many a heart, which, on 

 the preceding night had sunk in despondency, to beat with the renewed 

 animation of hope. But these hopes became trembling and confused, 

 when news arrived that the Russians, aware of their error in abandon- 

 ing tli advantageous point of the Beresina they had so recently occupied, 

 were advancing in full force on both sides of the river. Terror now 

 overpowered every consideration, either of cupidity or humanity, in the 

 bosoms of Aimee's protectors. Several drivers entered the wain, and 

 forcibly dragged from it all those shivering beings who had so long found 

 it a refuge. Aimee remonstrated, and spoke of Prince Eugene ; but 

 was told that he was with his imperial father on the other side of the 

 river, and had other things to do than to look after those who only 

 encumbered the march of the army. Aimee, who had so often, either 

 directly or indirectly, experienced the benefits of the Viceroy's protec- 

 tion, now began to feel herself wholly abandoned. She saw that it was 

 idle to expect that the princely general, called on as he was by the impe- 

 rious duties of his military office, could do more than issue orders for her 

 safety, which, in the increasing confusion of the moment, might be dis- 

 obeyed with impunity. Brutally forced from the refuge Eugene had 

 assigned her, Aimee joined that crowd of hapless and despairing strag- 

 glers, of every age and sex, who thronged behind the forces of Victor, 

 and, afraid either to remain on the fatal left bank, or attempt the crushed 

 passage of the bridges, wandered, in shivering and desponding uncer- 

 tainty, along the borders of the river. At this moment there was a 

 peculiar and ominous movement in the French rear-guard. The yells of 

 the approaching enemy were distinctly heard. Then came the heavy 

 fire of the charging columns, returned in rolling thunder by the French 

 lines of defence. These lines, however, still formed a barrier between 

 the fugitives and the advance-guard of the Russians ; and it was not 

 until the former began evidently to give away, that Aimee deemed all 

 lost. The Russian cannon became nearer, deeper, and more incessant. 

 To Aimee it seemed as if she were herself in the midst of the combat. 

 The balls which passed through the French host whistled by her, and the 

 shrieks of falling wretches rang in her ears. 



It was now that that fearful and fatal rush of passengers to the bridges 

 took place. Aimee saw crowds of fugitives, abandoned by every feeling 

 save that of wild personal terror, throng on those treacherous passages. 

 Then came the w T ell-remembered tempest, which after slowly collecting 

 its elementary fury in the early part of the day at length burst from 

 the indignant heavens, and held, as it seemed, a wild conflict for superio- 

 rity with the rage of the battle-storm beneath. Each moment, when the 

 hurricane, in its wild career, swept away the smoke of the contending 

 armies, Aimee could see the feeble victims which choked the bridges 

 gasping beneath the feet of the stronger passengers, crushed among 

 heavy wains and artillery, or more fearful still hurled into the waters 

 by the half-cruel, half-madly despairing struggles of those whose phy- 



