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t…soldiers； with cloaks unbuttoned or hanging from their shoulders like capeswounded men who were able to walk and joke and sing； some with arms in splints across their breasts； others with bandaged heads with clotted blood showing through the thin white strips。
The millionaire longed to do something for these brave fellows； but he had hardly begun to distribute some bottles of wine and loaves of bread before a doctor interposed； upbraiding him as though he had committed a crime。 His gifts might result fatally。 So he had to stand beside the road； sad and helpless； looking after the sorrowful convoy。 。 。 。 By nightfall the vehicles filled with the sick were no longer filing by。
He now saw hundreds of drays； some hermetically sealed with the prudence that explosive material requires； others with bundles and boxes that were sending out a stale odor of provisions。 Then came great herds of cattle raising thick； whirling clouds of dust in the narrow parts of the road； prodded on by the sticks and yells of the shepherds in kepis。
His thoughts kept him wakeful all night。 This； then； was the retreat of which the people of Paris were talking； but in which many wished not to believethe retreat reaching even there and continuing its indefinite retirement； since nobody knew what its end might be。 。 。 。 His optimism aroused a ridiculous hope。 Perhaps this was only the retreat of the hospitals and stores which always follows an army。 The troops； wishing to be rid of impedimenta； were sending them forward by railway and highway。 That must be it。 So all through the night； he interpreted the incessant bustle as the passing of vehicles filled with the wounded； with munitions and eatables； like those which had filed by in the afternoon。
Toward morning he fell asleep through sheer weariness； and when he awoke late in the day his first glance was toward the road。 He saw it filled with men and horses dragging some rolling objects。 But these men were carrying guns and were formed in battalions and regiments。 The animals were pulling the pieces of artillery。 It was an army。 。 。 。 It was the retreat！
Desnoyers ran to the edge of the road to be more convinced of the truth。
Alas； they were regiments such as he had seen leaving the stations of Paris。 。 。 。 But with what a very different aspect！ The blue cloaks were now ragged and yellowing garments； the trousers faded to the color of a half…baked brick； the shoes great cakes of mud。 The faces had a desperate expression； with layers of dust and sweat in all their grooves and openings； with beards of recent growth； sharp as spikes； with an air of great weariness showing the longing to drop down somewhere forever； killing or dying； but without going a step further。 They were tramping 。 。 。 tramping 。 。 。 tramping！ Some marches had lasted thirty hours at a stretch。 The enemy was on their tracks； and the order was to go on and not to fight； freeing themselves by their fleet…footedness from the involved movements of the invader。
The chiefs suspected the discouraged exhaustion of their men。 They might exact of them complete sacrifice of lifebut to order them to march day and night； forever fleeing before the enemy when they did not consider themselves vanquished； when they were animated by that ferocious wrath which is the mother of heroism！ 。 。 。 Their despairing expressions mutely sought the nearest officers； the
leaders； even the colonel。 They simply could go no further！ Such a long； devastating march in such a few days； and what for？ 。 。 。 The superior officers； who knew no more than their men； seemed to be replying with their eyes； as though they possessed a secret 〃Courage！ One more effort！ 。 。 。 This is going to come to an end very soon。〃
The vigorous beasts； having no imagination； were resisting less than the men； but their aspect was deplorable。 How could these be the same strong horses with glossy coats that he had seen in the Paris processions at the beginning of the previous month？ A campaign of twenty days had aged and exhausted them； their dull gaze seemed to be imploring pity。 They were weak and emaciated； the outline of their skeletons so plainly apparent that it made their eyes look larger。 Their harness； as they moved； showed the skin raw and bleeding。 Yet they were pushing on with a mighty effort； concentrating their last powers； as though human demands were beyond their obscure instincts。 Some could go no further and suddenly collapsed from sheer fatigue。 Desnoyers noticed that the artillerymen rapidly unharnessed them； pushing them out of the road so as to leave the way open for the rest。 There lay the skeleton… like frames with stiffened legs and glassy eyes staring fixedly at the first flies already attracted by their miserable carrion。
The cannons painted gray； the gun…carriages； the artillery equipment； all that Don Marcelo had seen clean and shining with the enthusiastic friction that man has given to arms from remote epochs even more persistent than that which woman gives to household utensilswere now dirty； overlaid with the marks of endless use； with the wreckage of unavoidable neglect。 The wheels were deformed with mud； the metal darkened by the smoke of explosion； the gray paint spotted with mossy dampness。
In the free spaces in this file； in the parentheses opened between battery and regiment； were sandwiched crowds of civiliansmiserable groups driven on by the invasion； populations of entire towns that had disintegrated； following the army in its retreat。 The approach of a new division would make them leave the road temporarily； continuing their march in the adjoining fields。 Then at the slightest opening in the troops they would again slip along the white and even surface of the highway。 They were mothers who were pushing hand…carts heaped high with pyramids of furniture and tiny babies； the sick who could hardly drag themselves along； old men carried on the shoulders of their grandsons； old women with little children clinging to their skirtsa pitiful； silent brood。
Nobody now opposed the liberality of the owner of the castle。 His entire vintage seemed to be overflowing on the highway。 Casks from the last grape…gathering were rolled out to the roadside； and the soldiers filled the metal ladles hanging from their belts with the red stream。 Then the bottled wine began making its appearance by order of date； and was instantly lost in the river of men continually flowing by。 Desnoyers observed with much satisfaction the effects of his munificence。 The smiles were reappearing on the despairing faces； the French jest was leaping from row to row； and on resuming their march the groups began to sing。
Then he went to see the officers who in the village square were giving their horses a brief rest before rejoining their columns。 With perplexed countenances and heavy eyes they were talking among themselves about this retreat； so incomprehensible to them all。 Days before in Guise they had routed their pursuers； and yet now they were continually withdrawing in obedience to a severe and endless order。 〃We do not understand it；〃 they were saying。 〃We do not understand。〃 An ordered and methodical tide was dragging