第31节
【】sheep,ofthoseleftthereinanofthe village.theyretuedinthreedays,raonbeingonlyaboutfifteen leseastofstill. therpspanies;whowere statiohevillagesonthevosges,andattheedgeofthe forestoftriespanyreiningatstill. frohesevillagestheyndedaviehewholeplain;and uld,en goingsouthfrotrasburg.eayoadepely oftheother,unitingtheirforlyodosoby jortee;pany, thathavitralposition.eayokeepa sharpynot superiortotheelvesinfordtocutoff,ifpossible,any sllpartiespillaginginthevillagesofthevalley,he footoftheuntains. thefirstpanyuheirlieutenant,deupastuedtheir speutzig;,theyleaed,actually oupiedbythegerns,butlyvisitedby partiesfroolsheiyofthebesiegers doyle eredtogether,ihelargesthousesinthe village;andfrohenceafinevieheplaintainable. theyainlongininactivity.uponthe fourthdayaftertheirarrival,theysaety horsenapproagtzig.ieseverynhad asseledand,atonce,rapidlyrcheddohehill;taking advasirregularities,soastofollorah theytheroad.kingaloour,they gaiheroadabouthalfalebeyondtzigand,posting theelvesangsotreesbyitsside,aedtheretuofthe uhlans. itheyretued.theywere laughing,andsinging;andtheboysfeltasensatinance, astheyraisedtheirriflestotheirshoulders,ahe ordertofireintotheirunsuspegfoes.theyhadnot,asyet, beehardehehorrorsofhehe riflesflashedout;andsixofthehorseherest,putting spurstotheirhorses,gallopedfuriouslyawasso yghtebackagain,largelyreinforced,in soshortatithattheorderoretreat,atonce. reagthehillandlookingbahourlater,theysawadark ssingfroolsheiandtheglassessooheuttobe aboutahundredcavalry,andasnyinfantry.ithey ezigandalthoughitprobablethattheywould asdthehill,atnightsentrieshro,fardos sides,togivethealarandthenohold theelvesinreadinessforaeretreattotheforest.it happehatheboysyand,justastheywere sittingdoe erunningin. ”heavenlytherthebrutesaresettingfiretotzig,your honor.” theboysranout.beloassofredflawas evidentthatseveralhouseses.thesightwasagrandone, forthelightshoheoutliheslopesofthehillsand, refle lookasifredhot.outupontheplain,roundlsheihe serablecafireshedistance, flirlightningtoldofthe ceaselessrainoffirekeptupupontheunhappytorasburg. ”e”percysaid,indignantly;”asiftheinhabitantsof tziguldhelpourattagtheuhlans. ”look,ralph,therearesixdistinctfires.” ”isupposethatisoneforeay. youybesuretheyaketheay,too.thirtythousand francs,ishouldthink,atleast. ”obelookeduponasachivalrousproceeding.thereisno rongernionofshopkeepers; theykeselves,inthespiritofanatioy hucksterers.” ”aupassaid, inguptoheyanding. ”itisshaful,sir,shaful,”ralphsaid. ”yes,”theoffiily.”thisistokehe vandalsdeit,notasitisdeinthehtury.in thecria,initalyay,eveninaakewarin thisperorssuerpalaause hissoldiershadrderedourprisonersinldblood,butwedid notbuasinglevillage.” ”no,”ralphsaid;”andihavereadthat,inabyssinia,weneveras chastookafothenatives,hout payingforit;andagdalaafter it,insuession,tothevariouskingsoftheuntry; aroyedit,atlast,topreventitbeingastrongholdof thegallastheeneesofabyssinia. ”dontyouthink,”heasked,afterapause,”ing torrow,sir” ”ithinkitverylikely,ihelieutenantsaid.”ihavejust sentoffassehendant,hafullreport;and askedhiosendoverareplyetoour assistance,orifofallback.” ”faith,andihopethatitsnotfallingbackillafter abit,”tioyleput in.”barrileaffairoftodayh ntioningihaventhadagesinceijoined therps.itsbeenjistrgandunterrg,overthe stonraisory;nothingbutuphillanddownhilland throughtrees,hbigstonesbreakingourpoorfeetintopieces, andtherainrunningdotogiveustheague. ”sure,lieutenant,yeargusaillwevehad alittledivarshin” theboysalllaughedattiplaint,hhadbeendelivered inenglish;foralthoughheuldnoandfrench,henever attetedtospeakit,exenecessaryquestion.percy translatedittothelieutenant. ”you.her youorroknohereareahundred infantrytheytusetheircavalryandysix n,alltold.fortunately,ronglineofretreat;ori shouldnotevenfortheceofbeingattacked.” ”atanyrate,youthinkthatoing,sir” ”yes,ithinkso,”thelieutenantsaid. ”thenoourdinner,”ralphsaid.”herewe ydiorrow” daybeginningtobreak,a ...