the four horsemen of the apocalypse-µÚ50½Ú
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¡¡had¡¡fled£»¡¡having¡¡become¡¡infected¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡was¡¡driving¡¡on¡¡the¡¡crowds¡¡following¡¡the¡¡army¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡mayor¡¡and¡¡the¡¡priest¡¡remained¡£¡¡Reconciled¡¡with¡¡the¡¡owner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡through¡¡his¡¡unexpected¡¡presence¡¡in¡¡their¡¡midst£»¡¡and¡¡admiring¡¡his¡¡liberality£»¡¡the¡¡municipal¡¡official¡¡approached¡¡to¡¡give¡¡him¡¡some¡¡news¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡engineers¡¡were¡¡mining¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡over¡¡the¡¡Marne¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡only¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡the¡¡dragoons¡¡to¡¡cross¡¡before¡¡blowing¡¡it¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡go£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡still¡¡time¡£
Again¡¡Desnoyers¡¡hesitated¡£¡¡¡¡Certainly¡¡it¡¡was¡¡foolhardy¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡at¡¡the¡¡woods¡¡over¡¡whose¡¡branches¡¡rose¡¡the¡¡towers¡¡of¡¡his¡¡castle£»¡¡settled¡¡his¡¡doubts¡£¡¡¡¡No£»¡¡no¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡must¡¡finish¡¡what¡¡we¡¡have¡¡begun£¡¡¨
The¡¡very¡¡last¡¡band¡¡of¡¡troopers¡¡now¡¡made¡¡their¡¡appearance£»¡¡coming¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡woods¡¡by¡¡different¡¡paths¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡riding¡¡their¡¡horses¡¡slowly£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡they¡¡deplored¡¡this¡¡retreat¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡kept¡¡looking¡¡behind£»¡¡carbine¡¡in¡¡hand£»¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡halt¡¡and¡¡shoot¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡others¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡occupying¡¡the¡¡barricade¡¡were¡¡already¡¡on¡¡their¡¡mounts¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡division¡¡reformed£»¡¡the¡¡commands¡¡of¡¡the¡¡officers¡¡were¡¡heard¡¡and¡¡a¡¡quick¡¡trot£»¡¡accompanied¡¡by¡¡the¡¡clanking¡¡of¡¡metal£»¡¡told¡¡Don¡¡Marcelo¡¡that¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡the¡¡army¡¡had¡¡left¡£
He¡¡remained¡¡near¡¡the¡¡barricade¡¡in¡¡a¡¡solitude¡¡of¡¡intense¡¡silence£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡the¡¡world¡¡were¡¡suddenly¡¡depopulated¡£¡¡¡¡Two¡¡dogs£»¡¡abandoned¡¡by¡¡the¡¡flight¡¡of¡¡their¡¡masters£»¡¡leaped¡¡and¡¡sniffed¡¡around¡¡him£»¡¡coaxing¡¡him¡¡for¡¡protection¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡get¡¡the¡¡desired¡¡scent¡¡in¡¡that¡¡land¡¡trodden¡¡down¡¡and¡¡disfigured¡¡by¡¡the¡¡transit¡¡of¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡men¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡family¡¡cat¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡birds¡¡that¡¡were¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡their¡¡haunts¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡timid¡¡flutterings¡¡they¡¡were¡¡picking¡¡at¡¡what¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡had¡¡left£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡ownerless¡¡hen¡¡was¡¡disputing¡¡the¡¡banquet¡¡with¡¡the¡¡winged¡¡band£»¡¡until¡¡then¡¡hidden¡¡in¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡roofs¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡silence¡¡intensified¡¡the¡¡rustling¡¡of¡¡the¡¡leaves£»¡¡the¡¡hum¡¡of¡¡the¡¡insects£»¡¡the¡¡summer¡¡respiration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sunburnt¡¡soil¡¡which¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡have¡¡contracted¡¡timorously¡¡under¡¡the¡¡weight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡in¡¡arms¡£
Desnoyers¡¡was¡¡losing¡¡exact¡¡track¡¡of¡¡the¡¡passing¡¡of¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡all¡¡which¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡before¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡dream¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡calm¡¡surrounding¡¡him¡¡made¡¡what¡¡had¡¡been¡¡happening¡¡here¡¡seem¡¡most¡¡improbable¡£
Suddenly¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡something¡¡moving¡¡at¡¡the¡¡far¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡highest¡¡point¡¡where¡¡the¡¡white¡¡ribbon¡¡of¡¡the¡¡highway¡¡touched¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡of¡¡the¡¡horizon¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡two¡¡men¡¡on¡¡horseback£»¡¡two¡¡little¡¡tin¡¡soldiers¡¡who¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡have¡¡escaped¡¡from¡¡a¡¡box¡¡of¡¡toys¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡with¡¡him¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡field¡¡glasses¡¡that¡¡had¡¡often¡¡surprised¡¡marauders¡¡on¡¡his¡¡property£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡their¡¡aid¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡more¡¡clearly¡¡the¡¡two¡¡riders¡¡clad¡¡in¡¡greenish¡¡gray£¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡carrying¡¡lances¡¡and¡¡wearing¡¡helmets¡¡ending¡¡in¡¡a¡¡horizontal¡¡plate¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡They£¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡doubt¡¡it£º¡¡before¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡the¡¡first¡¡Uhlans£¡
For¡¡some¡¡time¡¡they¡¡remained¡¡motionless£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡exploring¡¡the¡¡horizon¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡obscure¡¡masses¡¡of¡¡vegetation¡¡that¡¡bordered¡¡the¡¡roadside£»¡¡others¡¡and¡¡still¡¡others¡¡came¡¡sallying¡¡forth¡¡in¡¡groups¡£¡¡The¡¡little¡¡tin¡¡soldiers¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡were¡¡showing¡¡their¡¡silhouettes¡¡against¡¡the¡¡horizon's¡¡blue£»¡¡the¡¡whiteness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡highway¡¡was¡¡now¡¡making¡¡their¡¡background£»¡¡ascending¡¡behind¡¡their¡¡heads¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡came¡¡slowly¡¡down£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡band¡¡that¡¡fears¡¡ambush£»¡¡examining¡¡carefully¡¡everything¡¡around¡£
The¡¡advisability¡¡of¡¡prompt¡¡retirement¡¡made¡¡Don¡¡Marcelo¡¡bring¡¡his¡¡investigations¡¡to¡¡a¡¡close¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡most¡¡disastrous¡¡for¡¡him¡¡if¡¡they¡¡surprised¡¡him¡¡here¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡on¡¡lowering¡¡his¡¡glasses¡¡something¡¡extraordinary¡¡passed¡¡across¡¡his¡¡field¡¡of¡¡vision¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡short¡¡distance¡¡away£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡almost¡¡touch¡¡them¡¡with¡¡his¡¡hand£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡many¡¡men¡¡skulking¡¡along¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡on¡¡both¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡the¡¡road¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡surprise¡¡increased¡¡as¡¡he¡¡became¡¡convinced¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡Frenchmen£»¡¡wearing¡¡kepis¡£¡¡¡¡Where¡¡were¡¡they¡¡coming¡¡from£¿¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡examined¡¡more¡¡closely¡¡with¡¡his¡¡spy¡¡glass¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡stragglers¡¡in¡¡a¡¡lamentable¡¡state¡¡of¡¡body¡¡and¡¡a¡¡picturesque¡¡variety¡¡of¡¡uniforms¡¡infantry£»¡¡Zouaves£»¡¡dragoons¡¡without¡¡their¡¡horses¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡with¡¡them¡¡were¡¡forest¡¡guards¡¡and¡¡officers¡¡from¡¡the¡¡villages¡¡that¡¡had¡¡received¡¡too¡¡late¡¡the¡¡news¡¡of¡¡the¡¡retreataltogether¡¡about¡¡fifty¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡few¡¡were¡¡fresh¡¡and¡¡vigorous£»¡¡others¡¡were¡¡keeping¡¡themselves¡¡up¡¡by¡¡supernatural¡¡effort¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡were¡¡carrying¡¡arms¡£
They¡¡finally¡¡made¡¡the¡¡barricade£»¡¡looking¡¡continually¡¡behind¡¡them£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡watch£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shelter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡the¡¡slow¡¡advance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Uhlans¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡this¡¡heterogeneous¡¡troop¡¡was¡¡an¡¡official¡¡of¡¡the¡¡police£»¡¡old¡¡and¡¡fat£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡revolver¡¡in¡¡his¡¡right¡¡hand£»¡¡his¡¡moustache¡¡bristling¡¡with¡¡excitement£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡murderous¡¡glitter¡¡in¡¡his¡¡heavy¡lidded¡¡blue¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡band¡¡was¡¡continuing¡¡its¡¡advance¡¡through¡¡the¡¡village£»¡¡slipping¡¡over¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡barricade¡¡of¡¡carts¡¡without¡¡paying¡¡much¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡their¡¡curious¡¡countryman£»¡¡when¡¡suddenly¡¡sounded¡¡a¡¡loud¡¡detonation£»¡¡making¡¡the¡¡horizon¡¡vibrate¡¡and¡¡the¡¡houses¡¡tremble¡£
¡¨What¡¡is¡¡that£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡officer£»¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡Desnoyers¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡explained¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡which¡¡had¡¡just¡¡been¡¡blown¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡leader¡¡received¡¡the¡¡news¡¡with¡¡an¡¡oath£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡confused¡¡followers£»¡¡brought¡¡together¡¡by¡¡chance£»¡¡remained¡¡as¡¡indifferent¡¡as¡¡though¡¡they¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡all¡¡contact¡¡with¡¡reality¡£
¡¨Might¡¡as¡¡well¡¡die¡¡here¡¡as¡¡anywhere£»¡¨¡¡continued¡¡the¡¡official¡£¡¡¡¡Many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fugitives¡¡acknowledged¡¡this¡¡decision¡¡with¡¡prompt¡¡obedience£»¡¡since¡¡it¡¡saved¡¡them¡¡the¡¡torture¡¡of¡¡continuing¡¡their¡¡march¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡almost¡¡rejoicing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡explosion¡¡which¡¡had¡¡cut¡¡off¡¡their¡¡progress¡£¡¡¡¡Instinctively¡¡they¡¡were¡¡gathering¡¡in¡¡the¡¡places¡¡most¡¡sheltered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡barricade¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡abandoned¡¡houses¡¡whose¡¡doors¡¡the¡¡dragoons¡¡had¡¡forced¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡utilize¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡floors¡£¡¡All¡¡seemed¡¡satisfied¡¡to¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡rest£»¡¡even¡¡though¡¡they¡¡might¡¡soon¡¡have¡¡to¡¡fight¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡officer¡¡went¡¡from¡¡group¡¡to¡¡group¡¡giving¡¡his¡¡orders¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡must¡¡not¡¡fire¡¡till¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡word¡£
Don¡¡Marcelo¡¡watched¡¡these¡¡preparations¡¡with¡¡the¡¡immovability¡¡of¡¡surprise¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡rapid¡¡and¡¡noiseless¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡apparition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stragglers¡¡that¡¡he¡¡imagined¡¡he¡¡must¡¡still¡¡be¡¡dreaming¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡could¡¡be¡¡no¡¡danger¡¡in¡¡this¡¡unreal¡¡situation£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡all¡¡a¡¡lie¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡remained¡¡in¡¡his¡¡place¡¡without¡¡understanding¡¡the¡¡deputy¡¡who¡¡was¡¡ordering¡¡his¡¡departure¡¡with¡¡roughest¡¡words¡£¡¡¡¡Obstinate¡¡civilian£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
The¡¡reverberation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡explosion¡¡had¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡highway¡¡with¡¡horsemen¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡coming¡¡from¡¡all¡¡directions£»¡¡forming¡¡themselves¡¡into¡¡the¡¡advance¡¡group¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Uhlans¡¡were¡¡galloping¡¡around¡¡under¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡that¡¡the¡¡village¡¡was¡¡abandoned¡£
¡¨Fire£¡¡¨
Desnoyers¡¡was¡¡enveloped¡¡in¡¡a¡¡rain¡¡of¡¡crackling¡¡noises£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡the¡¡trunks¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡had¡¡split¡¡before¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£
The¡¡impetuous¡¡band¡¡halted¡¡suddenly¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡their¡¡men¡¡were¡¡rolling¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡were¡¡bending¡¡themselves¡¡double£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡get¡¡across¡¡the¡¡road¡¡without¡¡being¡¡seen¡£¡¡¡¡Others¡¡remained¡¡stretched¡¡out¡¡on¡¡their¡¡backs¡¡or¡¡face¡¡downward¡¡with¡¡their¡¡arms¡¡in¡¡front¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡riderless¡¡horses¡¡were¡¡racing¡¡wildly¡¡across¡¡the¡¡fields¡¡with¡¡reins¡¡dragging£»¡¡urged¡¡on¡¡by¡¡the¡¡loose¡¡stirrups¡£
And¡¡after¡¡this¡¡rude¡¡shock¡¡which¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡them¡¡surprise¡¡and¡¡death£»¡¡the¡¡band¡¡disappeared£»¡¡instantly¡¡swallowed¡¡up¡¡by¡¡the¡¡trees¡£
CHAPTER¡¡IV
NEAR¡¡THE¡¡SACRED¡¡GROTTO
Argensola¡¡had¡¡found¡¡a¡¡new¡¡occupation¡¡even¡¡more¡¡exciting¡¡than¡¡marking¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡map¡¡the¡¡manoeuvres¡¡of¡¡the¡¡armies¡£
¡¨I¡¡am¡¡now¡¡devoting¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡the¡¡taube£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡announced¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡appears¡¡from¡¡four¡¡to¡¡five¡¡with¡¡the¡¡precision¡¡a¡¡punctilious¡¡guest¡¡coming¡¡to¡¡take¡¡tea¡£¡¨
Every¡¡afternoon¡¡at¡¡the¡¡appointed¡¡hour£»¡¡a¡¡German¡¡aeroplane¡¡was¡¡flying¡¡over¡¡Paris¡¡dropping¡¡bombs¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡would¡be¡¡intimidation¡¡was¡¡producing¡¡no¡¡terror£»¡¡the¡¡people¡¡accepting¡¡the¡¡visit¡¡as¡¡an¡¡interesting¡¡and¡¡extraordinary¡¡spectacle¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡vain¡¡the¡¡aviators¡¡were¡¡flinging¡¡in¡¡the¡¡city¡¡streets¡¡German¡¡flags¡¡bearing¡¡ironic¡¡messages£»¡¡giving¡¡accounts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡defeat¡¡of¡¡the¡¡retreating¡¡army¡¡and¡¡the¡¡failures¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Russian¡¡offensive¡£¡¡¡¡Lies£»¡¡all¡¡lies£¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡vain¡¡they¡¡were¡¡dropping¡¡bombs£»¡¡destroying¡¡garrets£»¡¡killing¡¡or¡¡wounding¡¡old¡¡men£»¡¡women¡¡and¡¡babes¡£¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡the¡¡bandits£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡The¡¡crowds¡¡would¡¡threaten¡¡with¡¡their¡¡fists¡¡the¡¡malign¡¡mosquito£»¡¡scarcely¡¡visible¡¡6£»000¡¡feet¡¡above¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡this¡¡outburst£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡follow¡¡it¡¡with¡¡straining¡¡eyes¡¡from¡¡street¡¡to¡¡street£»¡¡or¡¡stand¡¡motionless¡¡in¡¡the¡¡square¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡study¡¡its¡¡evolutions¡£
The¡¡most¡¡punctual¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡spectators¡¡was¡¡Argensola¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡four¡¡o'clock¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡place¡¡de¡¡la¡¡Concorde¡¡with¡¡upturned¡¡face¡¡and¡¡wide¡open¡¡eyes£»¡¡in¡¡most¡¡cordial¡¡good¡fellowship¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡bystanders¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡as¡¡though¡¡they¡¡were¡¡holding¡¡season¡¡tickets¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡theatre£»¡¡becoming¡¡acquainted¡¡through¡¡seeing¡¡each¡¡other¡¡so¡¡often¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Will¡¡it¡¡come£¿¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡Will¡¡it¡¡not¡¡come¡¡to¡day£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡The¡¡women¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡most¡¡vehement£»¡¡some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡rushing¡¡up£»¡¡flushed¡¡and¡¡breathless£»¡¡fearing¡¡that¡¡they¡¡might¡¡have¡¡arrived¡¡too¡¡late¡¡for¡¡the¡¡show¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡great¡¡cry¡¨There¡¡it¡¡comes£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡it¡¡is£¡¡¨¡¡And¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡hands¡¡were¡¡pointing¡¡to¡¡a¡¡vague¡¡spot¡¡on¡¡the¡¡horizon¡£¡¡With¡¡field¡¡glasses¡¡and¡¡telescopes¡¡they¡¡were¡¡aiding¡¡their¡¡vision£»¡¡the¡¡popular¡¡venders¡¡offering¡¡every¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡optical¡¡instruments¡¡and¡¡for¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡the¡¡thrilling¡¡spectacle¡¡of¡¡an¡¡aerial¡¡hunt¡¡was¡¡played¡¡out£»¡¡noisy¡¡and¡¡useless¡£
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