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d。 A third…class car was occupied by the train escort； a detachment of provincial guards。 He was installed in a second…class compartment with the lieutenant in command of this guard and certain officials on their way to join their regiments after having completed the business of mobilization in the small towns in which they were stationed before the war。 The crowd； habituated to long detentions； was accustomed to getting out and settling down before the motionless locomotive； or scattering through the nearby fields。
In the stations of any importance all the tracks were occupied by rows of cars。 High…pressure engines were whistling； impatient to be off。 Groups of soldiers were hesitating before the different trains； making mistakes； getting out of one coach to enter others。 The employees； calm but weary…looking； were going from side to side； giving explanations about mountains of all sorts of freight and arranging them for transport。 In the convoy in which Desnoyers was placed the Territorials were sleeping； accustomed to the monotony of acting as guard。 Those in charge of the horses had opened the sliding doors； seating themselves on the floor with their legs hanging over the edge。 The train went very slowly during the night； across shadowy fields； stopping here and there before red lanterns and announcing its presence by prolonged whistling。
In some stations appeared young girls clad in white with cockades and pennants on their breasts。 Day and night they were there； in relays； so that no train should pass through without a visit。 They offered； in baskets and trays； their gifts to the soldiersbread； chocolate； fruit。 Many； already surfeited； tried to resist； but had to yield eventually before the pleading countenance of the maidens。 Even Desnoyers was laden down with these gifts of patriotic enthusiasm。
He passed a great part of the night talking with his travelling companions。 Only the officers had vague directions as to where they were to meet their regiments； for the operations of war were daily changing the situation。 Faithful to duty； they were passing on； hoping to arrive in time for the decisive combat。 The Chief of the Guard had been over the ground； and was the only one able to give any account of the retreat。 After each stop the train made less progress。 Everybody appeared confused。 Why the retreat？ 。 。 。 The army had undoubtedly suffered reverses； but it was still united and； in his opinion； ought to seek an engagement where it was。 The retreat was leaving the advance of the enemy unopposed。 To what point were they going to retreat？ 。 。 。 They who two weeks before were discussing in their garrisons the place in Belgium where their adversaries were going to receive their death blow and through what places their victorious troops would invade Germany！ 。 。 。
Their admission of the change of tactics did not reveal the slightest discouragement。 An indefinite but firm hope was hovering triumphantly above their vacillations。 The Generalissimo was the only one who possessed the secret of events。 And Desnoyers approved with the blind enthusiasm inspired by those in whom we have confidence。 Joffre！ 。 。 。 That serious and calm leader would finally bring things out all right。 Nobody ought to doubt his ability； he was the kind of man who always says the decisive word。
At daybreak Don Marcelo left the train。 〃Good luck to you！〃 And he clasped the hands of the brave young fellows who were going to die； perhaps in a very short time。 Finding the road unexpectedly open； the train started immediately and Desnoyers found himself alone in the station。 In normal times a branch road would have taken him on to Villeblanche； but the service was now suspended for lack of a train crew。 The employees had been transferred to the lines crowded with the war transportation。
In vain he sought； with most generous offers； a horse； a simple cart drawn by any kind of old beast； in order to continue his trip。 The mobilization had appropriated the best； and all other means of transportation had disappeared with the flight of the terrified。 He would have to walk the eight miles。 The old man did not hesitate。 Forward March！ And he began his course along the dusty； straight； white highway running between an endless succession of plains。 Some groups of trees； some green hedges and the roofs of various farms broke the monotony of the countryside。 The fields were covered with stubble from the recent harvest。 The haycocks dotted the ground with their yellowish cones； now beginning to darken and take on a tone of oxidized gold。 In the valleys the birds were flitting about； shaking off the dew of dawn。
The first rays of the sun announced a very hot day。 Around the hay stacks Desnoyers saw knots of people who were getting up； shaking out their clothes； and awaking those who were still sleeping。 They were fugitives camping near the station in the hope that some train would carry them further on； they knew not where。 Some had come from far…away districts； they had heard the cannon； had seen war approaching； and for several days had been going forward； directed by chance。 Others； infected with the contagion of panic； had fled； fearing to know the same horrors。 。 。 。 Among them he saw mothers with their little ones in their arms； and old men who could only walk with a cane in one hand and the other arm in that of some member of the family； and a few old women； withered and motionless as mummies； who were sleeping as they were trundled along in wheelbarrows。 When the sun awoke this miserable band they gathered themselves together with heavy step； still stiffened by the night。 Many were going toward the station in the hope of a train which never came； thinking that； perhaps； they might have better luck during the day that was just dawning。 Some were continuing their way down the track； hoping that fate might be more propitious in some other place。
Don Marcelo walked all the morning long。 The white； rectilinear ribbon of roadway was spotted with approaching groups that on the horizon line looked like a file of ants。 He did not see a single person going in his direction。 All were fleeing toward the South； and on meeting this city gentleman； well…shod； with walking stick and straw hat； going on alone toward the country which they were abandoning in terror； they showed the greatest astonishment。 They concluded that he must be some functionary； some celebrity from the Government。
At midday he was able to get a bit of bread； a little cheese and a bottle of white wine from a tavern near the road。 The proprietor was at the front； his wife sick and moaning in her bed。 The mother； a rather deaf old woman surrounded by her grandchildren； was watching from the doorway the procession of fugitives which had been filing by for the last three days。 〃Monsieur； why do they flee？〃 she said to Desnoyers。 〃War only concerns the soldiers。 We countryfolk have done no wrong to anybody； and we ought not to be afraid。〃
Four hours later； on descending one of the hills that bounded the valley of the Marne； he saw afar the roofs of Villeblanche clustered around the church； and further on； beyond a little grove； the s