On Tuesday, the 23d of August, at six o'clock in the morning, camp was broken, and as a stream that has momentarily expanded into a lake resumes its course again, the hundred and odd thousand men of the army of Chalons put themselves in motion and soon were pouring onward1 in a resistless torrent2; and notwithstanding the rumors4 that had been current since the preceding day, it was a great surprise to most to see that instead of continuing their retrograde movement they were leaving Paris behind them and turning their faces toward the unknown regions of the East.
At five o'clock in the morning the 7th corps5 was still unsupplied with cartridges6. For two days the artillerymen had been working like beavers8 to unload the _materiel_, horses, and stores that had been streaming from Metz into the overcrowded station, and it was only at the very last moment that some cars of cartridges were discovered among the tangled9 trains, and that a detail which included Jean among its numbers was enabled to bring back two hundred and forty thousand on carts that they had hurriedly requisitioned. Jean distributed the regulation number, one hundred cartridges to a man, among his squad10, just as Gaude, the company bugler11, sounded the order to march.
The 106th was not to pass through Rheims, their orders being to turn the city and debouch12 into the Chalons road farther on, but on this occasion there was the usual failure to regulate the order and time of marching, so that, the four corps having commenced to move at the same moment, they collided when they came out upon the roads that they were to traverse in common and the result was inextricable confusion. Cavalry13 and artillery7 were constantly cutting in among the infantry14 and bringing them to a halt; whole brigades were compelled to leave the road and stand at ordered arms in the plowed15 fields for more than an hour, waiting until the way should be cleared. And to make matters worse, they had hardly left the camp when a terrible storm broke over them, the rain pelting16 down in torrents17, drenching18 the men completely and adding intolerably to the weight of knapsacks and great-coats. Just as the rain began to hold up, however, the 106th saw a chance to go forward, while some zouaves in an adjoining field, who were forced to wait yet for a while, amused themselves by pelting one another with balls of moist earth, and the consequent condition of their uniforms afforded them much merriment.
The sun suddenly came shining out again in the clear sky, the warm, bright sun of an August morning, and with it came returning gayety; the men were steaming like a wash of linen19 hung out to dry in the open air: the moisture evaporated from their clothing in little more time than it takes to tell it, and when they were warm and dry again, like dogs who shake the water from them when they emerge from a pond, they chaffed one another good-naturedly on their bedraggled appearance and the splashes of mud on their red trousers. Wherever two roads intersected another halt was necessitated20; the last one was in a little village just beyond the walls of the city, in front of a small saloon that seemed to be doing a thriving business. Thereon it occurred to Maurice to treat the squad to a drink, by way of wishing them all good luck.
"Corporal, will you allow me--"
Jean, after hesitating a moment, accepted a "pony21" of brandy for himself. Loubet and Chouteau were of the party (the latter had been watchful22 and submissive since that day when the corporal had evinced a disposition23 to use his heavy fists), and also Pache and Lapoulle, a couple of very decent fellows when there was no one to set them a bad example.
"Thank you; here's hoping that you may bring back your head and all your legs and arms!" Jean politely replied, while the others laughed approvingly.
But the column was about to move; Captain Beaudoin came up with a scandalized look on his face and a reproof25 at the tip of his tongue, while Lieutenant26 Rochas, more indulgent to the small weaknesses of his men, turned his head so as not to see what was going on. And now they were stepping out at a good round pace along the Chalons road, which stretched before them for many a long league, bordered with trees on either side, undeviatingly straight, like a never-ending ribbon unrolled between the fields of yellow stubble that were dotted here and there with tall stacks and wooden windmills brandishing27 their lean arms. More to the north were rows of telegraph poles, indicating the position of other roads, on which they could distinguish the black, crawling lines of other marching regiments29. In many places the troops had left the highway and were moving in deep columns across the open plain. To the left and front a cavalry brigade was seen, jogging along at an easy trot30 in a blaze of sunshine. The entire wide horizon, usually so silent and deserted31, was alive and populous32 with those streams of men, pressing onward, onward, in long drawn33, black array, like the innumerable throng34 of insects from some gigantic ant-hill.
About nine o'clock the regiment28 left the Chalons road and wheeled to the left into another that led to Suippe, which, like the first, extended, straight as an arrow's flight, far as the eye could see. The men marched at the route-step in two straggling files along either side of the road, thus leaving the central space free for the officers, and Maurice could not help noticing their anxious, care-worn air, in striking contrast with the jollity and good-humor of the soldiers, who were happy as children to be on the move once more. As the squad was near the head of the column he could even distinguish the Colonel, M. de Vineuil, in the distance, and was impressed by the grave earnestness of his manner, and his tall, rigid35 form, swaying in cadence36 to the motion of his charger. The band had been sent back to the rear, to keep company with the regimental wagons37; it played but once during that entire campaign. Then came the ambulances and engineer's train attached to the division, and succeeding that the corps train, an interminable procession of forage39 wagons, closed vans for stores, carts for baggage, and vehicles of every known description, occupying a space of road nearly four miles in length, and which, at the infrequent curves in the highway, they could see winding40 behind them like the tail of some great serpent. And last of all, at the extreme rear of the column, came the herds41, "rations44 on the hoof," a surging, bleating45, bellowing46 mass of sheep and oxen, urged on by blows and raising clouds of dust, reminding one of the old warlike peoples of the East and their migrations47.
Lapoulle meantime would every now and then give a hitch48 of his shoulders in an attempt to shift the weight of his knapsack when it began to be too heavy. The others, alleging49 that he was the strongest, were accustomed to make him carry the various utensils50 that were common to the squad, including the big kettle and the water-pail; on this occasion they had even saddled him with the company shovel51, assuring him that it was a badge of honor. So far was he from complaining that he was now laughing at a song with which Loubet, the tenor52 of the squad, was trying to beguile53 the tedium54 of the way. Loubet had made himself quite famous by reason of his knapsack, in which was to be found a little of everything: linen, an extra pair of shoes, haberdashery, chocolate, brushes, a plate and cup, to say nothing of his regular rations of biscuit and coffee, and although the all-devouring55 receptacle also contained his cartridges, and his blankets were rolled on top of it, together with the shelter-tent and stakes, the load nevertheless appeared light, such an excellent system he had of packing his trunk, as he himself expressed it.
"It's a beastly country, all the same!" Chouteau kept repeating from time to time, casting a look of intense disgust over the dreary56 plains of "lousy Champagne57."
Broad expanses of chalky ground of a dirty white lay before and around them, and seemed to have no end. Not a farmhouse58 to be seen anywhere, not a living being; nothing but flocks of crows, forming small spots of blackness on the immensity of the gray waste. On the left, far away in the distance, the low hills that bounded the horizon in that direction were crowned by woods of somber59 pines, while on the right an unbroken wall of trees indicated the course of the river Vesle. But over there behind the hills they had seen for the last hour a dense60 smoke was rising, the heavy clouds of which obscured the sky and told of a dreadful conflagration61 raging at no great distance.
"What is burning over there?" was the question that was on the lips of everyone.
The answer was quickly given and ran through the column from front to rear. The camp of Chalons had been fired, it was said, by order of the Emperor, to keep the immense collection of stores there from falling into the hands of the Prussians, and for the last two days it had been going up in flame and smoke. The cavalry of the rear-guard had been instructed to apply the torch to two immense warehouses62, filled with tents, tent-poles, mattresses63, clothing, shoes, blankets, mess utensils, supplies of every kind sufficient for the equipment of a hundred thousand men. Stacks of forage also had been lighted, and were blazing like huge beacon-fires, and an oppressive silence settled down upon the army as it pursued its march across the wide, solitary64 plain at sight of that dusky, eddying65 column that rose from behind the distant hills, filling the heavens with desolation. All that was to be heard in the bright sunlight was the measured tramp of many feet upon the hollow ground, while involuntarily the eyes of all were turned on that livid cloud whose baleful shadows rested on their march for many a league.
Their spirits rose again when they made their midday halt in a field of stubble, where the men could seat themselves on their unslung knapsacks and refresh themselves with a bite. The large square biscuits could only be eaten by crumbling66 them in the soup, but the little round ones were quite a delicacy68, light and appetizing; the only trouble was that they left an intolerable thirst behind them. Pache sang a hymn69, being invited thereto, the squad joining in the chorus. Jean smiled good-naturedly without attempting to check them in their amusement, while Maurice, at sight of the universal cheerfulness and the good order with which their first day's march was conducted, felt a revival70 of confidence. The remainder of the allotted71 task of the day was performed with the same light-hearted alacrity72, although the last five miles tried their endurance. They had abandoned the high road, leaving the village of Prosnes to their right, in order to avail themselves of a short cut across a sandy heath diversified73 by an occasional thin pine wood, and the entire division, with its interminable train at its heels, turned and twisted in and out among the trees, sinking ankle deep in the yielding sand at every step. It seemed as if the cheerless waste would never end; all that they met was a flock of very lean sheep, guarded by a big black dog.
It was about four o'clock when at last the 106th halted for the night at Dontrien, a small village on the banks of the Suippe. The little stream winds among some pretty groves74 of trees; the old church stands in the middle of the graveyard75, which is shaded in its entire extent by a magnificent chestnut76. The regiment pitched its tents on the left bank, in a meadow that sloped gently down to the margin77 of the river. The officers said that all the four corps would bivouac that evening on the line of the Suippe between Auberive and Hentregiville, occupying the intervening villages of Dontrien, Betheniville and Pont-Faverger, making a line of battle nearly five leagues long.
Gaude immediately gave the call for "distribution," and Jean had to run for it, for the corporal was steward-in-chief, and it behooved78 him to be on the lookout79 to protect his men's interests. He had taken Lapoulle with him, and in a quarter of an hour they returned with some ribs80 of beef and a bundle of firewood. In the short space of time succeeding their arrival three steers81 of the herd42 that followed the column had been knocked in the head under a great oak-tree, skinned, and cut up. Lapoulle had to return for bread, which the villagers of Dontrien had been baking all that afternoon in their ovens. There was really no lack of anything on that first day, setting aside wine and tobacco, with which the troops were to be obliged to dispense82 during the remainder of the campaign.
Upon Jean's return he found Chouteau engaged in raising the tent, assisted by Pache; he looked at them for a moment with the critical eye of an old soldier who had no great opinion of their abilities.
"It will do very well if the weather is fine to-night," he said at last, "but if it should come on to blow we would like enough wake up and find ourselves in the river. Let me show you."
And he was about to send Maurice with the large pail for water, but the young man had sat down on the ground, taken off his shoe, and was examining his right foot.
"Hallo, there! what's the matter with you?"
"My shoe has chafed83 my foot and raised a blister84. My other shoes were worn out, and when we were at Rheims I bought these, like a big fool, because they were a good fit. I should have selected gunboats."
Jean kneeled and took the foot in his hand, turning it over as carefully as if it had been a little child's, with a disapproving85 shake of his head.
"You must be careful; it is no laughing matter, a thing like that. A soldier without the use of his feet is of no good to himself or anyone else. When we were in Italy my captain used always to say that it is the men's legs that win battles."
He bade Pache go for the water, no very hard task, as the river was but a few yards away, and Loubet, having in the meantime dug a shallow trench86 and lit his fire, was enabled to commence operations on his _pot-au-feu_, which he did by putting on the big kettle full of water and plunging87 into it the meat that he had previously88 corded together with a bit of twine89, _secundum artem_. Then it was solid comfort for them to watch the boiling of the soup; the whole squad, their chores done up and their day's labor90 ended, stretched themselves on the grass around the fire in a family group, full of tender anxiety for the simmering meat, while Loubet occasionally stirred the pot with a gravity fitted to the importance of his position. Like children and savages91, their sole instinct was to eat and sleep, careless of the morrow, while advancing to face unknown risks and dangers.
But Maurice had unpacked92 his knapsack and come across a newspaper that he had bought at Rheims, and Chouteau asked:
"Is there anything about the Prussians in it? Read us the news!"
They were a happy family under Jean's mild despotism. Maurice good-naturedly read such news as he thought might interest them, while Pache, the seamstress of the company, mended his greatcoat for him and Lapoulle cleaned his musket93. The first item was a splendid victory won by Bazaine, who had driven an entire Prussian corps into the quarries94 of Jaumont, and the trumped-up tale was told with an abundance of dramatic detail, how men and horses went over the precipice95 and were crushed on the rocks beneath out of all semblance96 of humanity, so that there was not one whole corpse97 found for burial. Then there were minute details of the pitiable condition of the German armies ever since they had invaded France: the ill-fed, poorly equipped soldiers were actually falling from inanition and dying by the roadside of horrible diseases. Another article told how the king of Prussia had the diarrhea, and how Bismarck had broken his leg in jumping from the window of an inn where a party of zouaves had just missed capturing him. Capital news! Lapoulle laughed over it as if he would split his sides, while Chouteau and the others, without expressing the faintest doubt, chuckled98 at the idea that soon they would be picking up Prussians as boys pick up sparrows in a field after a hail-storm. But they laughed loudest at old Bismarck's accident; oh! the zouaves and the turcos, they were the boys for one's money! It was said that the Germans were in an ecstasy99 of fear and rage, declaring that it was unworthy of a nation that claimed to be civilized101 to employ such heathen savages in its armies. Although they had been decimated at Froeschwiller, the foreign troops seemed to have a good deal of life left in them.
It was just striking six from the steeple of the little church of Dontrien when Loubet shouted:
"Come to supper!"
The squad lost no time in seating themselves in a circle. At the very last moment Loubet had succeeded in getting some vegetables from a peasant who lived hard by. That made the crowning glory of the feast: a soup perfumed with carrots and onions, that went down the throat soft as velvet--what could they have desired more? The spoons rattled102 merrily in the little wooden bowls. Then it devolved on Jean, who always served the portions, to distribute the beef, and it behooved him that day to do it with the strictest impartiality103, for hungry eyes were watching him and there would have been a growl104 had anyone received a larger piece than his neighbors. They concluded by licking the porringers, and were smeared105 with soup up to their eyes.
"Ah, _nom de Dieu!_" Chouteau declared when he had finished, throwing himself flat on his back; "I would rather take that than a beating, any day!"
Maurice, too, whose foot pained him less now that he could give it a little rest, was conscious of that sensation of well-being106 that is the result of a full stomach. He was beginning to take more kindly107 to his rough companions, and to bring himself down nearer to their level under the pressure of the physical necessities of their life in common. That night he slept the same deep sleep as did his five tent-mates; they all huddled108 close together, finding the sensation of animal warmth not disagreeable in the heavy dew that fell. It is necessary to state that Lapoulle, at the instigation of Loubet, had gone to a stack not far away and feloniously appropriated a quantity of straw, in which our six gentlemen snored as if it had been a bed of down. And from Auberive to Hentregiville, along the pleasant banks of the Suippe as it meandered109 sluggishly110 between its willows111, the fires of those hundred thousand sleeping men illuminated112 the starlit night for fifteen miles, like a long array of twinkling stars.
At sunrise they made coffee, pulverizing113 the berries in a wooden bowl with a musket-butt, throwing the powder into boiling water, and settling it with a drop of cold water. The luminary114 rose that morning in a bank of purple and gold, affording a spectacle of royal magnificence, but Maurice had no eye for such displays, and Jean, with the weather-wisdom of a peasant, cast an anxious glance at the red disk, which presaged115 rain; and it was for that reason that, the surplus of bread baked the day before having been distributed and the squad having received three loaves, he reproved severely116 Loubet and Pache for making them fast on the outside of their knapsacks; but the tents were folded and the knapsacks packed, and so no one paid any attention to him. Six o'clock was sounding from all the bells of the village when the army put itself in motion and stoutly117 resumed its advance in the bright hopefulness of the dawn of the new day.
The 106th, in order to reach the road that leads from Rheims to Vouziers, struck into a cross-road, and for more than an hour their way was an ascending118 one. Below them, toward the north, Betheniville was visible among the trees, where the Emperor was reported to have slept, and when they reached the Vouziers road the level country of the preceding day again presented itself to their gaze and the lean fields of "lousy Champagne" stretched before them in wearisome monotony. They now had the Arne, an insignificant119 stream, flowing on their left, while to the right the treeless, naked country stretched far as the eye could see in an apparently120 interminable horizon. They passed through a village or two: Saint-Clement, with its single winding street bordered by a double row of houses, Saint-Pierre, a little town of miserly rich men who had barricaded121 their doors and windows. The long halt occurred about ten o'clock, near another village, Saint-Etienne, where the men were highly delighted to find tobacco once more. The 7th corps had been cut up into several columns, and the 106th headed one of these columns, having behind it only a battalion122 of chasseurs and the reserve artillery. Maurice turned his head at every bend in the road to catch a glimpse of the long train that had so excited his interest the day before, but in vain; the herds had gone off in some other direction, and all he could see was the guns, looming123 inordinately124 large upon those level plains, like monster insects of somber mien125.
After leaving Saint-Etienne, however, there was a change for the worse, and the road from bad became abominable126, rising by an easy ascent127 between great sterile128 fields in which the only signs of vegetation were the everlasting129 pine woods with their dark verdure, forming a dismal130 contrast with the gray-white soil. It was the most forlorn spot they had seen yet. The ill-paved road, washed by the recent rains, was a lake of mud, of tenacious131, slippery gray clay, which held the men's feet like so much pitch. It was wearisome work; the troops were exhausted132 and could not get forward, and as if things were not bad enough already, the rain suddenly began to come down most violently. The guns were mired133 and had to be left in the road.
Chouteau, who had been given the squad's rice to carry, fatigued135 and exasperated136 with his heavy load, watched for an opportunity when no one was looking and dropped the package. But Loubet had seen him.
"See here, that's no way! you ought not to do that. The comrades will be hungry by and by."
"Let be!" replied Chouteau. "There is plenty of rice; they will give us more at the end of the march."
Maurice was suffering more and more with his foot, of which the heel was badly inflamed138. He limped along in such a pitiable state that Jean's sympathy was aroused.
"Does it hurt? is it no better, eh?" And as the men were halted just then for a breathing spell, he gave him a bit of good advice. "Take off your shoe and go barefoot; the cool earth will ease the pain."
And in that way Maurice found that he could keep up with his comrades with some degree of comfort; he experienced a sentiment of deep gratitude139. It was a piece of great good luck that their squad had a corporal like him, a man who had seen service and knew all the tricks of the trade: he was an uncultivated peasant, of course, but a good fellow all the same.
It was late when they reached their place of bivouac at Contreuve, after marching a long time on the Chalons and Vouziers road and descending140 by a steep path into the valley of the Semide, up which they came through a stretch of narrow meadows. The landscape had undergone a change; they were now in the Ardennes, and from the lofty hills above the village where the engineers had staked off the ground for the 7th corps' camp, the valley of the Aisne was dimly visible in the distance, veiled in the pale mists of the passing shower.
Six o'clock came and there had been no distribution of rations, whereon Jean, in order to keep occupied, apprehensive141 also of the consequences that might result from the high wind that was springing up, determined142 to attend in person to the setting up of the tent. He showed his men how it should be done, selecting a bit of ground that sloped away a little to one side, setting the pegs143 at the proper angle, and digging a little trench around the whole to carry off the water. Maurice was excused from the usual nightly drudgery144 on account of his sore foot, and was an interested witness of the intelligence and handiness of the big young fellow whose general appearance was so stolid145 and ungainly. He was completely knocked up with fatigue134, but the confidence that they were now advancing with a definite end in view served to sustain him. They had had a hard time of it since they left Rheims, making nearly forty miles in two days' marching; if they could maintain the pace and if they kept straight on in the direction they were pursuing, there could be no doubt that they would destroy the second German army and effect a junction146 with Bazaine before the third, the Crown Prince of Prussia's, which was said to be at Vitry-le Francois, could get up to Verdun.
"Oh, come now! I wonder if they are going to let us starve!" was Chouteau's remark when, at seven o'clock, there was still no sign of rations.
By way of taking time by the forelock, Jean had instructed Loubet to light the fire and put on the pot, and, as there was no issue of firewood, he had been compelled to be blind to the slight irregularity of the proceeding147 when that individual remedied the omission148 by tearing the palings from an adjacent fence. When he suggested knocking up a dish of bacon and rice, however, the truth had to come out, and he was informed that the rice and bacon were lying in the mud of the Saint-Etienne road. Chouteau lied with the greatest effrontery149 declaring that the package must have slipped from his shoulders without his noticing it.
"You are a couple of pigs!" Jean shouted angrily, "to throw away good victuals150, when there are so many poor devils going with an empty stomach!"
It was the same with the three loaves that had been fastened outside the knapsacks; they had not listened to his warning, and the consequence was that the rain had soaked the bread and reduced it to paste.
"A pretty pickle151 we are in!" he continued. "We had food in plenty, and now here we are, without a crumb67! Ah! you are a pair of dirty pigs!"
At that moment the first sergeant152's call was heard, and Sergeant Sapin, returning presently with his usual doleful air, informed the men that it would be impossible to distribute rations that evening, and that they would have to content themselves with what eatables they had on their persons. It was reported that the trains had been delayed by the bad weather, and as to the herds, they must have straggled off as a result of conflicting orders. Subsequently it became known that on that day the 5th and 12th corps had got up to Rethel, where the headquarters of the army were established, and the inhabitants of the neighboring villages, possessed153 with a mad desire to see the Emperor, had inaugurated a hegira154 toward that town, taking with them everything in the way of provisions; so that when the 7th corps came up they found themselves in a land of nakedness: no bread, no meat, no people, even. To add to their distress155 a misconception of orders had caused the supplies of the commissary department to be directed on Chene-Populeux. This was a state of affairs that during the entire campaign formed the despair of the wretched commissaries, who had to endure the abuse and execrations of the whole army, while their sole fault lay in being punctual at rendezvous156 at which the troops failed to appear.
"It serves you right, you dirty pigs!" continued Jean in his wrath157, "and you don't deserve the trouble that I am going to have in finding you something to eat, for I suppose it is my duty not to let you starve, all the same." And he started off to see what he could find, as every good corporal does under such circumstances, taking with him Pache, who was a favorite on account of his quiet manner, although he considered him rather too priest-ridden.
But Loubet's attention had just been attracted to a little farmhouse, one of the last dwellings158 in Contreuve, some two or three hundred yards away, where there seemed to him to be promise of good results. He called Chouteau and Lapoulle to him and said:
"Come along, and let's see what we can do. I've a notion there's grub to be had over that way."
So Maurice was left to keep up the fire and watch the kettle, in which the water was beginning to boil. He had seated himself on his blanket and taken off his shoe in order to give his blister a chance to heal. It amused him to look about the camp and watch the behavior of the different squads159 now that there was to be no issue of rations; the deduction160 that he arrived at was that some of them were in a chronic161 state of destitution162, while others reveled in continual abundance, and that these conditions were ascribable to the greater or less degree of tact163 and foresight164 of the corporal and his men. Amid the confusion that reigned165 about the stacks and tents he remarked some squads who had not been able even to start a fire, others of which the men had abandoned hope and lain themselves resignedly down for the night, while others again were ravenously166 devouring, no one knew what, something good, no doubt. Another thing that impressed him was the good order that prevailed in the artillery, which had its camp above him, on the hillside. The setting sun peeped out from a rift167 in the clouds and his rays were reflected from the burnished168 guns, from which the men had cleansed169 the coat of mud that they had picked up along the road.
In the meantime General Bourgain-Desfeuilles, commanding the brigade, had found quarters suited to his taste in the little farmhouse toward which the designs of Loubet and his companions were directed. He had discovered something that had the semblance of a bed and was seated at table with a roasted chicken and an omelette before him; consequently he was in the best of humors, and as Colonel de Vineuil happened in just then on regimental business, had invited him to dine. They were enjoying their repast, therefore, waited on by a tall, light-haired individual who had been in the farmer's service only three days and claimed to be an Alsatian, one of those who had been forced to leave their country after the disaster of Froeschwiller. The general did not seem to think it necessary to use any restraint in presence of the man, commenting freely on the movements of the army, and finally, forgetful of the fact that he was not an inhabitant of the country, began to question him about localities and distances. His questions displayed such utter ignorance of the country that the colonel, who had once lived at Mezieres, was astounded170; he gave such information as he had at command, which elicited171 from the chief the exclamation172:
"It is just like our idiotic173 government! How can they expect us to fight in a country of which we know nothing?"
The colonel's face assumed a look of vague consternation174. He knew that immediately upon the declaration of war maps of Germany had been distributed among the officers, while it was quite certain that not one of them had a map of France. He was amazed and confounded by what he had seen and heard since the opening of the campaign. His unquestioned bravery was his distinctive175 trait; he was a somewhat weak and not very brilliant commander, which caused him to be more loved than respected in his regiment.
"It's too bad that a man can't eat his dinner in peace!" the general suddenly blurted176 out. "What does all that uproar177 mean? Go and see what the matter is, you Alsatian fellow!"
But the farmer anticipated him by appearing at the door, sobbing178 and gesticulating like a crazy man. They were robbing him, the zouaves and chasseurs were plundering179 his house. As he was the only one in the village who had anything to sell he had foolishly allowed himself to be persuaded to open shop. At first he had sold his eggs and chickens, his rabbits, and potatoes, without exacting180 an extortionate profit, pocketing his money and delivering the merchandise; then the customers had streamed in in a constantly increasing throng, jostling and worrying the old man, finally crowding him aside and taking all he had without pretense181 of payment. And thus it was throughout the war; if many peasants concealed182 their property and even denied a drink of water to the thirsty soldier, it was because of their fear of the irresistible183 inroads of that ocean of men, who swept everything clean before them, thrusting the wretched owners from their houses and beggaring them.
"Eh! will you hold your tongue, old man!" shouted the general in disgust. "Those rascals184 ought to be shot at the rate of a dozen a day. What is one to do?" And to avoid taking the measures that the case demanded he gave orders to close the door, while the colonel explained to him that there had been no issue of rations and the men were hungry.
While these things were going on within the house Loubet outside had discovered a field of potatoes; he and Lapoulle scaled the fence and were digging the precious tubers with their hands and stuffing their pockets with them when Chouteau, who in the pursuit of knowledge was looking over a low wall, gave a shrill185 whistle that called them hurriedly to his side. They uttered an exclamation of wonder and delight; there was a flock of geese, ten fat, splendid geese, pompously186 waddling187 about a small yard. A council of war was held forthwith, and it was decided189 that Lapoulle should storm the place and make prisoners of the garrison190. The conflict was a bloody191 one; the venerable gander on which the soldier laid his predaceous hands had nearly deprived him of his nose with its bill, hard and sharp as a tailor's shears192. Then he caught it by the neck and tried to choke it, but the bird tore his trousers with its strong claws and pummeled him about the body with its great wings. He finally ended the battle by braining it with his fist, and it had not ceased to struggle when he leaped the wall, hotly pursued by the remainder of the flock, pecking viciously at his legs.
When they got back to camp, with the unfortunate gander and the potatoes hidden in a bag, they found that Jean and Pache had also been successful in their expedition, and had enriched the common larder193 with four loaves of fresh bread and a cheese that they had purchased from a worthy100 old woman.
"The water is boiling and we will make some coffee," said the corporal. "Here are bread and cheese; it will be a regular feast!"
He could not help laughing, however, when he looked down and saw the goose lying at his feet. He raised it, examining and hefting it with the judgment194 of an expert.
"Ah! upon my word, a fine bird! it must weigh twenty pounds."
"We were out walking and met the bird," Loubet explained in an unctuously195 sanctimonious196 voice, "and it insisted on making our acquaintance."
Jean made no reply, but his manner showed that he wished to hear nothing more of the matter. Men must live, and then why in the name of common sense should not those poor fellows, who had almost forgotten how poultry197 tasted, have a treat once in a way!
Loubet had already kindled198 the fire into a roaring blaze; Pache and Lapoulle set to work to pluck the goose; Chouteau, who had run off to the artillerymen and begged a bit of twine, came back and stretched it between two bayonets; the bird was suspended in front of the hot fire and Maurice was given a cleaning rod and enjoined199 to keep it turning. The big tin basin was set beneath to catch the gravy200. It was a triumph of culinary art; the whole regiment, attracted by the savory201 odor, came and formed a circle about the fire and licked their chops. And what a feast it was! roast goose, boiled potatoes, bread, cheese, and coffee! When Jean had dissected202 the bird the squad applied203 itself vigorously to the task before it; there was no talk of portions, every man ate as much as he was capable of holding. They even sent a plate full over to the artillerymen who had furnished the cord.
The officers of the regiment that evening were a very hungry set of men, for owing to some mistake the canteen wagon38 was among the missing, gone off to look after the corps train, maybe. If the men were inconvenienced when there was no issue of ration43 they scarcely ever failed to find something to eat in the end; they helped one another out; the men of the different squads "chipped in" their resources, each contributing his mite204, while the officer, with no one to look to save himself, was in a fair way of starving as soon as he had not the canteen to fall back on. So there was a sneer205 on Chouteau's face, buried in the carcass of the goose, as he saw Captain Beaudoin go by with his prim206, supercilious207 air, for he had heard that officer summoning down imprecations on the driver of the missing wagon; and he gave him an evil look out of the corner of his eye.
"Just look at him! See, his nose twitches208 like a rabbit's. He would give a dollar for the pope's nose."
They all made merry at the expense of the captain, who was too callow and too harsh to be a favorite with his men; they called him a _pete-sec_. He seemed on the point of taking the squad in hand for the scandal they were creating with their goose dinner, but thought better of the matter, ashamed, probably, to show his hunger, and walked off, holding his head very erect209, as if he had seen nothing.
As for Lieutenant Rochas, who was also conscious of a terribly empty sensation in his epigastric region, he put on a brave face and laughed good-naturedly as he passed the thrice-lucky squad. His men adored him, in the first place because he was at sword's points with the captain, that little whipper-snapper from Saint-Cyr, and also because he had once carried a musket like themselves. He was not always easy to get along with, however, and there were times when they would have given a good deal could they have cuffed210 him for his brutality211.
Jean glanced inquiringly at his comrades, and their mute reply being propitious212, arose and beckoned213 to Rochas to follow him behind the tent.
"See here, Lieutenant, I hope you won't be offended, but if it is agreeable to you--"
And he handed him half a loaf of bread and a wooden bowl in which there were a second joint214 of the bird and six big mealy potatoes.
That night again the six men required no rocking; they digested their dinner while sleeping the sleep of the just. They had reason to thank the corporal for the scientific way in which he had set up their tent, for they were not even conscious of a small hurricane that blew up about two o'clock, accompanied by a sharp down-pour of rain; some of the tents were blown down, and the men, wakened out of their sound slumber215, were drenched216 and had to scamper217 in the pitchy darkness, while theirs stood firm and they were warm and dry, thanks to the ingenious device of the trench.
Maurice awoke at daylight, and as they were not to march until eight o'clock it occurred to him to walk out to the artillery camp on the hill and say how do you do to his cousin Honore. His foot was less painful after his good night's rest. His wonder and admiration218 were again excited by the neatness and perfect order that prevailed throughout the encampment, the six guns of a battery aligned219 with mathematical precision and accompanied by their caissons, prolonges, forage-wagons, and forges. A short way off, lined up to their rope, stood the horses, whinnying impatiently and turning their muzzles220 to the rising sun. He had no difficulty in finding Honore's tent, thanks to the regulation which assigns to the men of each piece a separate street, so that a single glance at a camp suffices to show the number of guns.
When Maurice reached his destination the artillerymen were already stirring and about to drink their coffee, and a quarrel had arisen between Adolphe, the forward driver, and Louis, the gunner, his mate. For the entire three years that they had been "married," in accordance with the custom which couples a driver with a gunner, they had lived happily together, with the one exception of meal-times. Louis, an intelligent man and the better informed of the two, did not grumble221 at the airs of superiority that are affected222 by every mounted over every unmounted man: he pitched the tent, made the soup, and did the chores, while Adolphe groomed223 his horses with the pride of a reigning224 potentate225. When the former, a little black, lean man, afflicted226 with an enormous appetite, rose in arms against the exactions of the latter, a big, burly fellow with huge blonde mustaches, who insisted on being waited on like a lord, then the fun began. The subject matter of the dispute on the present morning was that Louis, who had made the coffee, accused Adolphe of having drunk it all. It required some diplomacy227 to reconcile them.
Not a morning passed that Honore failed to go and look after his piece, seeing to it that it was carefully dried and cleansed from the night dew, as if it had been a favorite animal that he was fearful might take cold, and there it was that Maurice found him, exercising his paternal228 supervision229 in the crisp morning air.
"Ah, it's you! I knew that the 106th was somewhere in the vicinity; I got a letter from Remilly yesterday and was intending to start out and hunt you up. Let's go and have a glass of white wine."
For the sake of privacy he conducted his cousin to the little farmhouse that the soldiers had looted the day before, where the old peasant, undeterred by his losses and allured230 by the prospect231 of turning an honest penny, had tapped a cask of wine and set up a kind of public bar. He had extemporized232 a counter from a board rested on two empty barrels before the door of his house, and over it he dealt out his stock in trade at four sous a glass, assisted by the strapping233 young Alsatian whom he had taken into his service three days before.
As Honore was touching234 glasses with Maurice his eyes lighted on this man. He gazed at him a moment as if stupefied, then let slip a terrible oath.
"_Tonnerre de Dieu!_ Goliah!"
And he darted235 forward and would have caught him by the throat, but the peasant, foreseeing in his action a repetition of his yesterday's experience, jumped quickly within the house and locked the door behind him. For a moment confusion reigned about the premises236; soldiers came rushing up to see what was going on, while the quartermaster-sergeant shouted at the top of his voice:
"Open the door, open the door, you confounded idiot! It is a spy, I tell you, a Prussian spy!"
Maurice doubted no longer; there was no room for mistake now; the Alsatian was certainly the man whom he had seen arrested at the camp of Mulhausen and released because there was not evidence enough to hold him, and that man was Goliah, old Fouchard's quondam assistant on his farm at Remilly. When finally the peasant opened his door the house was searched from top to bottom, but to no purpose; the bird had flown, the gawky Alsatian, the tow-headed, simple-faced lout237 whom General Bourgain-Desfeuilles had questioned the day before at dinner without learning anything and before whom, in the innocence238 of his heart, he had disclosed things that would have better been kept secret. It was evident enough that the scamp had made his escape by a back window which was found open, but the hunt that was immediately started throughout the village and its environs had no results; the fellow, big as he was, had vanished as utterly239 as a smoke-wreath dissolves upon the air.
Maurice thought it best to take Honore away, lest in his distracted state he might reveal to the spectators unpleasant family secrets which they had no concern to know.
"_Tonnerre de Dieu!_" he cried again, "it would have done me such good to strangle him!--The letter that I was speaking of revived all my old hatred240 for him."
And the two of them sat down upon the ground against a stack of rye a little way from the house, and he handed the letter to his cousin.
It was the old story: the course of Honore Fouchard's and Silvine Morange's love had not run smooth. She, a pretty, meek-eyed, brown-haired girl, had in early childhood lost her mother, an operative in one of the factories of Raucourt, and Doctor Dalichamp, her godfather, a worthy man who was greatly addicted241 to adopting the wretched little beings whom he ushered242 into the world, had conceived the idea of placing her in Father Fouchard's family as small maid of all work. True it was that the old boor243 was a terrible skinflint and a harsh, stern taskmaster; he had gone into the butchering business from sordid244 love of lucre245, and his cart was to be seen daily, rain or shine, on the roads of twenty communes; but if the child was willing to work she would have a home and a protector, perhaps some small prospect in the future. At all events she would be spared the contamination of the factory. And naturally enough it came to pass that in old Fouchard's household the son and heir and the little maid of all work fell in love with each other. Honore was then just turned sixteen and she was twelve, and when she was sixteen and he twenty there was a drawing for the army; Honore, to his great delight, secured a lucky number and determined to marry. Nothing had ever passed between them, thanks to the unusual delicacy that was inherent in the lad's tranquil246, thoughtful nature, more than an occasional hug and a furtive247 kiss in the barn. But when he spoke248 of the marriage to his father, the old man, who had the stubbornness of the mule249, angrily told him that his son might kill him, but never, never would he consent, and continued to keep the girl about the house, not worrying about the matter, expecting it would soon blow over. For two years longer the young folks kept on adoring and desiring each other, and never the least breath of scandal sullied their names. Then one day there was a frightful250 quarrel between the two men, after which the young man, feeling he could no longer endure his father's tyranny, enlisted251 and was packed off to Africa, while the butcher still retained the servant-maid, because she was useful to him. Soon after that a terrible thing happened: Silvine, who had sworn that she would be true to her lover and await his return, was detected one day, two short weeks after his departure, in the company of a laborer252 who had been working on the farm for some months past, that Goliah Steinberg, the Prussian, as he was called; a tall, simple young fellow with short, light hair, wearing a perpetual smile on his broad, pink face, who had made himself Honore's chum. Had Father Fouchard traitorously253 incited254 the man to take advantage of the girl? or had Silvine, sick at heart and prostrated255 by the sorrow of parting with her lover, yielded in a moment of unconsciousness? She could not tell herself; was dazed, and saw herself driven by the necessity of her situation to a marriage with Goliah. He, for his part, always with the everlasting smile on his face, made no objection, only insisted on deferring256 the ceremony until the child should be born. When that event occurred he suddenly disappeared; it was rumored257, subsequently that he had found work on another farm, over Beaumont way. These things had happened three years before the breaking out of the war, and now everyone was convinced that that artless, simple Goliah, who had such a way of ingratiating himself with the girls, was none else than one of those Prussian spies who filled our eastern provinces. When Honore learned the tidings over in Africa he was three months in hospital, as if the fierce sun of that country had smitten258 him on the neck with one of his fiery259 javelins260, and never thereafter did he apply for leave of absence to return to his country for fear lest he might again set eyes on Silvine and her child.
The artilleryman's hands shook with agitation261 as Maurice perused262 the letter. It was from Silvine, the first, the only one that she had ever written him. What had been her guiding impulse, that silent, submissive woman, whose handsome black eyes at times manifested a startling fixedness263 of purpose in the midst of her never-ending slavery? She simply said that she knew he was with the army, and though she might never see him again, she could not endure the thought that he might die and believe that she had ceased to love him. She loved him still, had never loved another; and this she repeated again and again through four closely written pages, in words of unvarying import, without the slightest word of excuse for herself, without even attempting to explain what had happened. There was no mention of the child, nothing but an infinitely264 mournful and tender farewell.
The letter produced a profound impression upon Maurice, to whom his cousin had once imparted the whole story. He raised his eyes and saw that Honore was weeping; he embraced him like a brother.
"My poor Honore."
But the sergeant quickly got the better of his emotion. He carefully restored the letter to its place over his heart and rebuttoned his jacket.
"Yes, those are things that a man does not forget. Ah! the scoundrel, if I could but have laid hands on him! But we shall see."
The bugles265 were sounding the signal to prepare for breaking camp, and each had to hurry away to rejoin his command. The preparations for departure dragged, however, and the troops had to stand waiting in heavy marching order until nearly nine o'clock. A feeling of hesitancy seemed to have taken possession of their leaders; there was not the resolute266 alacrity of the first two days, when the 7th corps had accomplished267 forty miles in two marches. Strange and alarming news, moreover, had been circulating through the camp since morning, that the three other corps were marching northward268, the 1st at Juniville, the 5th and 12th at Rethel, and this deviation269 from their route was accounted for on the ground of the necessities of the commissariat. Montmedy had ceased to be their objective, then? why were they thus idling away their time again? What was most alarming of all was that the Prussians could not now be far away, for the officers had cautioned their men not to fall behind the column, as all stragglers were liable to be picked up by the enemy's light cavalry. It was the 25th of August, and Maurice, when he subsequently recalled to mind Goliah's disappearance270, was certain that the man had been instrumental in affording the German staff exact information as to the movements of the army of Chalons, and thus producing the change of front of their third army. The succeeding morning the Crown Prince of Prussia left Revigny and the great maneuver271 was initiated272, that gigantic movement by the flank, surrounding and enmeshing us by a series of forced marches conducted in the most admirable order through Champagne and the Ardennes. While the French were stumbling aimlessly about the country, oscillating uncertainly between one place and another, the Prussians were making their twenty miles a day and more, gradually contracting their immense circle of beaters upon the band of men whom they held within their toils273, and driving their prey274 onward toward the forests of the frontier.
A start was finally made, and the result of the day's movement showed that the army was pivoting275 on its left; the 7th corps only traversed the two short leagues between Contreuve and Vouziers, while the 5th and 12th corps did not stir from Rethel, and the 1st went no farther than Attigny. Between Contreuve and the valley of the Aisne the country became level again and was more bare than ever; as they drew near to Vouziers the road wound among desolate276 hills and naked gray fields, without a tree, without a house, as gloomy and forbidding as a desert, and the day's march, short as it was, was accomplished with such fatigue and distress that it seemed interminably long. Soon after midday, however, the 1st and 3d divisions had passed through the city and encamped in the meadows on the farther bank of the Aisne, while a brigade of the second, which included the 106th, had remained upon the left bank, bivouacking among the waste lands of which the low foot-hills overlooked the valley, observing from their position the Monthois road, which skirts the stream and by which the enemy was expected to make his appearance.
And Maurice was dumfoundered to behold277 advancing along that Monthois road Margueritte's entire division, the body of cavalry to which had been assigned the duty of supporting the 7th corps and watching the left flank of the army. The report was that it was on its way to Chene-Populeux. Why was the left wing, where alone they were threatened by the enemy, stripped in that manner? What sense was there in summoning in upon the center, where they could be of no earthly use, those two thousand horsemen, who should have been dispersed278 upon our flank, leagues away, as videttes to observe the enemy? And what made matters worse was that they caused the greatest confusion among the columns of the 7th corps, cutting in upon their line of march and producing an inextricable jam of horses, guns, and men. A squadron of chasseurs d'Afrique were halted for near two hours at the gate of Vouziers, and by the merest chance Maurice stumbled on Prosper279, who had ridden his horse down to the bank of a neighboring pond to let him drink, and the two men were enabled to exchange a few words. The chasseur appeared stunned280, dazed, knew nothing and had seen nothing since they left Rheims; yes, though, he had: he had seen two uhlans more; oh! but they were will o' the wisps, phantoms281, they were, that appeared and vanished, and no one could tell whence they came nor whither they went. Their fame had spread, and stories of them were already rife282 throughout the country, such, for instance, as that of four uhlans galloping283 into a town with drawn revolvers and taking possession of it, when the corps to which they belonged was a dozen miles away. They were everywhere, preceding the columns like a buzzing, stinging swarm284 of bees, a living curtain, behind which the infantry could mask their movements and march and countermarch as securely as if they were at home upon parade. And Maurice's heart sank in his bosom285 as he looked at the road, crowded with chasseurs and hussars which our leaders put to such poor use.
"Well, then, _au revoir_," said he, shaking Prosper by the hand; "perhaps they will find something for you to do down yonder, after all."
But the chasseur appeared disgusted with the task assigned him. He sadly stroked Poulet's neck and answered:
"Ah, what's the use talking! they kill our horses and let us rot in idleness. It is sickening."
When Maurice took off his shoe that evening to have a look at his foot, which was aching and throbbing286 feverishly287, the skin came with it; the blood spurted288 forth188 and he uttered a cry of pain. Jean was standing3 by, and exhibited much pity and concern.
"Look here, that is becoming serious; you are going to lie right down and not attempt to move. That foot of yours must be attended to. Let me see it."
He knelt down, washed the sore with his own hands and bound it up with some clean linen that he took from his knapsack. He displayed the gentleness of a woman and the deftness289 of a surgeon, whose big fingers can be so pliant290 when necessity requires it.
A great wave of tenderness swept over Maurice, his eyes were dimmed with tears, the familiar _thou_ rose from his heart to his lips with an irresistible impulse of affection, as if in that peasant whom he once had hated and abhorred291, whom only yesterday he had despised, he had discovered a long lost brother.
"Thou art a good fellow, thou! Thanks, good friend."
And Jean, too, looking very happy, dropped into the second person singular, with his tranquil smile.
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1
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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3
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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4
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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5
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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6
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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7
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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8
beavers
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| 海狸( beaver的名词复数 )； 海狸皮毛； 棕灰色； 拼命工作的人 | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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10
squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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bugler
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| 喇叭手； 号兵； 吹鼓手； 司号员 | |
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12
debouch
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| v.流出，进入 | |
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13
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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15
plowed
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| v.耕( plow的过去式和过去分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过 | |
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pelting
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| 微不足道的，无价值的，盛怒的 | |
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torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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18
drenching
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| n.湿透v.使湿透( drench的现在分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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necessitated
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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25
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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cadence
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| n.（说话声调的）抑扬顿挫 | |
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37
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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forage
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| n.(牛马的)饲料，粮草；v.搜寻，翻寻 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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41
herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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42
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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43
ration
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| n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应 | |
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rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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45
bleating
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| v.（羊，小牛）叫( bleat的现在分词 )；哭诉；发出羊叫似的声音；轻声诉说 | |
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46
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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47
migrations
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| n.迁移，移居( migration的名词复数 ) | |
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48
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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49
alleging
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| 断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 ) | |
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50
utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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51
shovel
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| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
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52
tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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53
beguile
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| vt.欺骗，消遣 | |
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54
tedium
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| n.单调；烦闷 | |
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55
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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56
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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57
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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58
farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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59
somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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60
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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61
conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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62
warehouses
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| 仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 ) | |
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63
mattresses
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| 褥垫，床垫( mattress的名词复数 ) | |
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64
solitary
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|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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65
eddying
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| 涡流，涡流的形成 | |
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66
crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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67
crumb
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|
| n.饼屑，面包屑，小量 | |
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68
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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69
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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70
revival
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| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
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71
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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73
diversified
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|
| adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域 | |
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74
groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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75
graveyard
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| n.坟场 | |
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76
chestnut
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|
| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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77
margin
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|
| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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78
behooved
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|
| v.适宜( behoove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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80
ribs
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|
| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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81
steers
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|
| n.阉公牛，肉用公牛( steer的名词复数 )v.驾驶( steer的第三人称单数 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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82
dispense
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|
| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
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83
chafed
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|
| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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84
blister
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|
| n.水疱；(油漆等的)气泡；v.(使)起泡 | |
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85
disapproving
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|
| adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 ) | |
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86
trench
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|
| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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87
plunging
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|
| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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88
previously
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|
| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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89
twine
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| v.搓，织，编饰；（使）缠绕 | |
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90
labor
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|
| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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91
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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92
unpacked
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|
| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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93
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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94
quarries
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| n.（采）石场( quarry的名词复数 )；猎物（指鸟，兽等）；方形石；（格窗等的）方形玻璃v.从采石场采得( quarry的第三人称单数 )；从（书本等中）努力发掘（资料等）；在采石场采石 | |
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95
precipice
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|
| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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96
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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97
corpse
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|
| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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98
chuckled
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|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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99
ecstasy
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|
| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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100
worthy
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|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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101
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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102
rattled
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|
| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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103
impartiality
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|
| n. 公平, 无私, 不偏 | |
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104
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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105
smeared
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|
| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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106
well-being
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| n.安康，安乐，幸福 | |
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107
kindly
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|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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108
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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109
meandered
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| （指溪流、河流等）蜿蜒而流( meander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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110
sluggishly
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|
| adv.懒惰地；缓慢地 | |
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111
willows
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| n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木 | |
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112
illuminated
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|
| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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113
pulverizing
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|
| v.将…弄碎( pulverize的现在分词 )；将…弄成粉末或尘埃；摧毁；粉碎 | |
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114
luminary
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| n.名人，天体 | |
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115
presaged
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|
| v.预示，预兆( presage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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116
severely
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|
| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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117
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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118
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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119
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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120
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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121
barricaded
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| 设路障于，以障碍物阻塞( barricade的过去式和过去分词 )； 设路障[防御工事]保卫或固守 | |
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122
battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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123
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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124
inordinately
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| adv.无度地，非常地 | |
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125
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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126
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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127
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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128
sterile
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| adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的 | |
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129
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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130
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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131
tenacious
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| adj.顽强的，固执的，记忆力强的，粘的 | |
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132
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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133
mired
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| abbr.microreciprocal degree 迈尔德（色温单位）v.深陷( mire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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134
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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135
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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136
exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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137
cogent
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| adj.强有力的，有说服力的 | |
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138
inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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139
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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140
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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141
apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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142
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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143
pegs
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| n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 )；挂钉；系帐篷的桩；弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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144
drudgery
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| n.苦工，重活，单调乏味的工作 | |
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145
stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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146
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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147
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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148
omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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149
effrontery
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| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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150
victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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151
pickle
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| n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡 | |
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152
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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153
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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154
hegira
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| n.逃亡 | |
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155
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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156
rendezvous
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|
| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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157
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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158
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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159
squads
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| n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍 | |
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160
deduction
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| n.减除，扣除，减除额；推论，推理，演绎 | |
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161
chronic
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| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
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162
destitution
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| n.穷困，缺乏，贫穷 | |
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163
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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164
foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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165
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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166
ravenously
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| adv.大嚼地，饥饿地 | |
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167
rift
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| n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入 | |
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168
burnished
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|
| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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169
cleansed
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|
| 弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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170
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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171
elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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172
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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173
idiotic
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| adj.白痴的 | |
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174
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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175
distinctive
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| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
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176
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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177
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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178
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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179
plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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180
exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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181
pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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182
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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183
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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184
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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185
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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186
pompously
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| adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样 | |
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187
waddling
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| v.（像鸭子一样）摇摇摆摆地走( waddle的现在分词 ) | |
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188
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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189
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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190
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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191
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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192
shears
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| n.大剪刀 | |
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193
larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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194
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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195
unctuously
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| adv.油腻地，油腔滑调地；假惺惺 | |
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196
sanctimonious
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| adj.假装神圣的，假装虔诚的，假装诚实的 | |
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197
poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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198
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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199
enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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200
gravy
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| n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快 | |
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201
savory
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| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
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202
dissected
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| adj.切开的，分割的，（叶子）多裂的v.解剖（动物等）( dissect的过去式和过去分词 )；仔细分析或研究 | |
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203
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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204
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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205
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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206
prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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207
supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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208
twitches
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| n.（使）抽动， （使）颤动， （使）抽搐( twitch的名词复数 ) | |
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209
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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210
cuffed
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| v.掌打，拳打( cuff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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211
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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212
propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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213
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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214
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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215
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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216
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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217
scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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218
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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219
aligned
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| adj.对齐的，均衡的 | |
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220
muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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221
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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222
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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223
groomed
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| v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的过去式和过去分词 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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224
reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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225
potentate
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| n.统治者；君主 | |
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226
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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227
diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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228
paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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229
supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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230
allured
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| 诱引，吸引( allure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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231
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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232
extemporized
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| v.即兴创作，即席演奏( extemporize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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233
strapping
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| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
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234
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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235
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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236
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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237
lout
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| n.粗鄙的人；举止粗鲁的人 | |
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238
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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239
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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240
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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241
addicted
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|
| adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的 | |
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242
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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243
boor
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| n.举止粗野的人；乡下佬 | |
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244
sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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245
lucre
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| n.金钱，财富 | |
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246
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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247
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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248
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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249
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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250
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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251
enlisted
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|
| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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252
laborer
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| n.劳动者，劳工 | |
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253
traitorously
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| 叛逆地，不忠地 | |
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254
incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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255
prostrated
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| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
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256
deferring
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| v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的现在分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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257
rumored
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| adj.传说的，谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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258
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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259
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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260
javelins
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| n.标枪( javelin的名词复数 ) | |
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261
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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262
perused
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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263
fixedness
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| n.固定；稳定；稳固 | |
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264
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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265
bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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266
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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267
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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268
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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269
deviation
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| n.背离，偏离；偏差，偏向；离题 | |
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270
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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271
maneuver
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| n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略 | |
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272
initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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273
toils
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| 网 | |
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274
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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275
pivoting
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| n.绕轴旋转，绕公共法线旋转v.（似）在枢轴上转动( pivot的现在分词 )；把…放在枢轴上；以…为核心，围绕（主旨）展开 | |
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276
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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277
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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278
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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279
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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280
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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281
phantoms
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| n.鬼怪，幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
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282
rife
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| adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的 | |
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283
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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284
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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285
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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286
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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287
feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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288
spurted
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| （液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的过去式和过去分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺 | |
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289
deftness
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290
pliant
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| adj.顺从的；可弯曲的 | |
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291
abhorred
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| v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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292
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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