第76节
etrievethefortuhedaythereireated, sullenly,htheirfacestothefoe. ralphbarclay,,hadshotthefirst thhisrevolver;andhadthedownbya tallgerndragoon,justatthentthathishorsefelldead, shhthehead.ralphhadantaryvisionofgleang hoofsabovehiandthenhereerednothiilheca tohielf,hoursafterwards. hisfirstsensationhatofintenseld.heendeavoredto rise,butovehandorfoot.helayquietfora feinutes;andthehereffort,butilar ofsuess.thisti,hobswouldhave ved,hadtheynotbeenfasteneddoe. heno.ityielded suddenlyand,otupartlyround, soastofeelithathad.hefoundthathis ofasttothe ground.itrequiredansiderableeffortbeforeheuldget altogetherfree,forheiffhtheld.puttinghissword uptohishead,hefoundthathehadbeeheveryans sochpaienseldhadfrozen theblood,asitflooreeffectivelythanany surgeonuldhavedone. ralphafterrubbinghishandsandar,torestore ulationnoainsoft,tosee , andalstveringhithepooranilhadfallenontoitsback; orhadrolledover,afterhelattercase,itwas fortunateindeed,forralph,thatithadnottakenanotherhalf tu.haditdoneso,ittodeath.asitpartly nfroheld,andalso greatlydinishinghispleduponbycavalry passingover. ashortdistanceoff,ralphuldseepartieshlantes;and oheeedapproag.farinhisrear,heuldhearan oind,atohatthe frenchhadbeeed,andhese lights,therefore,stbeinthehandsofgerns. thethoughtthatagernprisonarousedralphfrois inaindthat,ashehadescaped before,theybutlittleceof esheadtofoot; halffrozen,andfaintfroossofbloodthehopeofliberty rousedhioneeeffort,hegotattheholster ofhispistol;inrongbrandyander inginfluehe lightsedistanceoff;andralph,after nsiderabletrouble,andaftercuttirapsened ittothesaddle,sueedediingathisfuroverat.thishe puton,piantrooperswhohad fallennear,andtheedbattle ground. teer,heheardahorseshoofsuponthehardground. heckedthepistolainedfasteohisbelt,when hefellpulledforansoldierscap,andwalked quietlyon. ”here”shoutedavoidtanofficersrodeup. itoodark,noodistinguishfaces. ”karlziern,oftheseventhdragoons,”ralphsaid,ingern, saluting. ”areyoudoinghere” <;andihadbeen tolookforhisbody.itehere,harged thegrayzouaves.” ”butyintislesoff,”oheofficerssaid.”isaw thenho.” ”idontknoyhead laidopen,an ihadseenshootster.iotherear,butthe surgeonhadgoneon;andoppedofitselfand,wheni reachedthehospital,thedoctorshatiaskedleave togo,andseeifiuldfindster.” ”bulanoheofficersasked,asthey tuedtorideoff. ”overinthatdireeofthe searchers,hlaheyyou,atonce.” ”thanks,”theofficersaid,ridingoff;”goodluyoursearch.” ralphhadnoticedattage,standingbyitselfattheedgeofa elittledistancefrohebivouafthenightofthe 30thofnoveer;andhadstoppedforant,andaskedafew questionsoftheanhere.shehadappeareda kiedan,fullofhatredfortheinvader;andhadtwo sonsinthebiles,arorth threatened,andhere.forthisttageralph deteroke,iheoto takeshelterinthehouse;otherofindarefugeinthewood, itself,toliehid forafefearofaveryahbeing defitives,atpresent,astheprussianshadonlydriven backty;andhad,ralphbelieved, plentyofeti. itunateforralphthathehadstudiedthegroundso eupontheroad,aarsh hisdireandbearings.the battlehadextendedovertheesralph uldheargroans;andsasthiattered roundshoade,orwherea reginthadlainexposed,forhours,toanartilleryfire. thedistancearkedoutfor hielf.eightles,atleast,hethought;foritwasawaybehind had,t.itwas,inralphs stateoffeebleness,averylongjouey.overandain,he hadtositdo.hedidheld,nohefur at,andtheexertionofhisbodyinagloook greatpains,hoself,soastokehielf toohot;ashefearedthathisightbreakout,ifhedidso. heheroad;anddaylight breakingiedbyhunger,fatigue,andloss ofbloodhecraothedoor,andknocked. thereoventiituntilhehadknocked thatavoiasked: ”here” ”aer,”ralphsaid. therealk,inside. ”letin,friends,”hesaid,”forthereranceofyourboys inparis.the ...