第47节
【】einutes, anajor. thelieutenantnond.thereinuationof thehalt,fortennutes,ajorilyburiedby theroadside;arougharkthespot,anda deepadeireessothat,evenifthe crossightbefound afterarchedonagain. thefirstuseadeofhisauthorityeven befivingdiresfortheburialoordertherdsof theprisoobecut.thentherpsntisrd,by thebrightenedfaen,ituldbeseeneasilyenoughhow unpopulartheirlatenderhadbeen;andthattheycherished butslightanisityagainsttheslayer.inashorttithey struargsongsandprisonersasthey irethesteady,rtialbearing ofthen,astheystrodealong,kihe deepchorus. inthreehoursrhedthevillagehetroopshad left,theeveningbefore,tosurprisethefranctireurs;having,as ralphhadleaedfrohelieutenantinnd,received infortionfrospyoftheirarrivalatthevillage,lateat night;andhavingstartedatonderhisguidance. hereansiderablegernforcebled.theprisonerswere notunkindlytreated;buttioyle thesoastonishnttheiryouth;butitwas assudthattheyhadbeenpupilsatsaintcyrorthepolyteic, nyofreceivedssionsopossibilityof findingoffinsenehe offihatand,asthesehadbeenalso ehefights,tendaysbefore,thereaions toask,upoherside. theboysleaedthattheyoday;wouldbe rchedtoluneville,aherain. ”theyareafioffelloheirlast visitorhadleftthe”goodofficers,uionably;andwhen theyareniapitalfelloakeoutheyshouldbe sobrutal,assoldiers;fortheyareundoubtedlyakindlyrace.” ”nodoubt,”percysaid,butheatters,and notpayingchattentiontohisbrother. ”doyouthinkakingourescape,ralph” ”oh,enough,”ralphansly. ”hourknoan,andlookingsoyoung,therebe difficultyaboutit,totheendofour jouey;butitshinkingaboutit,atpresent.we shallbeagooddealtoocloselylookedafter.ionlyhopethey ayence,orblentz;andnottoohe fortressesattheotherendofgerny. ”nd,ustnotgiveourparole.” theday,ostart,theyfoundthat thereyorsixtyotherprisonersin, frotherdireebeloolis;butthe greaterportion,byfar,obilesheretreatof generalcariels,hadbeencutofforleftbehindand,after hidingintheedays,werebeinggraduallyfoundand broughtin.thebarclaysheonlyofficers.theytherefore tooktheirplacesattheheadoftheprisoners;ed,four deeparch. itarch.theherhe barhedintoluneville. thegreaterpartoftheprisonersiable ndition.sosorethattheyuldhardlyputone footbeforetheother.otherstotteredenof theesrtfrequentlyusedtheflatsoftheirspel theokeeptogether.astheyrchedthroughthestreetsof luneville,thepeopleireetsunvered;andtheenwaved theirhandstotheandpressedforfruitand bread,inspiteoftheordersoftheesrt. theyakenstraighttotherailation,heywere putintoashed.ralphandpercyhadgaihegoodhe sergeantinndoftheesrt,bythennerinheyhad aidedhiyinterpretingtotherestoftheprisoners,andby doingtheirbesttocheerthep,andtakethingssoth;andthey notorequesttheoffind,attherailway station,toallotountilthetrainstarted,on parole.therequesthefavorablereportofthe sergeantgraondtheyoldthatnotrainwould gooffuntiling,andthattheyghtsleepiown, iftheychose. thankingtheoffiissioofthe station;ansergeantstoppedbefore the ”donnered,”sohereyain” theboysgavealittlestart;fortheyregohe sergeantinthecabaret,upon thenightaster. ralphsaportanan;asa reportfroiftheesghtreheirpositiona stunpleasantoneaheeventofnothinging ofitosteheircaptivityinsoprisonuponthe farthersideofprussia,insteadofatohefrontier fortresses. ”ah,sergeant,hoisourfate,you see,tobedeprisoners.youakingus,andnow hereweare.” ”ahesergeantsaid,surlily,”h yourebrother,andyoursicksister,and yourahataffair.” ”e,sergeant,”ralphsaid,laughing,”letbygonesbebygones. allisfairintouchasinglehairof anyofyournsheads.allaster.it ightdous haritsquitebadenoughforus,asitis.” ”youreniceboys,youare,”thesergeantsaid,hhisface relaxingintoasle.”tothinkofbeingtakenin,bytwolads likeyou.onstrouslywell,iwillsayfor youneverflinchedaneyelash. ”soyouareofficers,afterall.ineversuspectedanythingabout it,tillthreehoursaftertorelievethe sentry;andfoundhiyiieduplikeabundle.we uldntthihe,foryouhaddeno attaditoingthathattheold sasterhadbeechedoutofbed,andcarriedoffonthe headsoften. ”alice.” ”thatsright, ...