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The Downfall by Émile Zola
page 99 of 812 (12%)
into the hands of the Prussians, and for the last two days it had been
going up in flame and smoke. The cavalry of the rear-guard had been
instructed to apply the torch to two immense warehouses, filled with
tents, tent-poles, mattresses, clothing, shoes, blankets, mess
utensils, supplies of every kind sufficient for the equipment of a
hundred thousand men. Stacks of forage also had been lighted, and were
blazing like huge beacon-fires, and an oppressive silence settled down
upon the army as it pursued its march across the wide, solitary plain
at sight of that dusky, eddying column that rose from behind the
distant hills, filling the heavens with desolation. All that was to be
heard in the bright sunlight was the measured tramp of many feet upon
the hollow ground, while involuntarily the eyes of all were turned on
that livid cloud whose baleful shadows rested on their march for many
a league.

Their spirits rose again when they made their midday halt in a field
of stubble, where the men could seat themselves on their unslung
knapsacks and refresh themselves with a bite. The large square
biscuits could only be eaten by crumbling them in the soup, but the
little round ones were quite a delicacy, light and appetizing; the
only trouble was that they left an intolerable thirst behind them.
Pache sang a hymn, being invited thereto, the squad joining in the
chorus. Jean smiled good-naturedly without attempting to check them in
their amusement, while Maurice, at sight of the universal cheerfulness
and the good order with which their first day's march was conducted,
felt a revival of confidence. The remainder of the allotted task of
the day was performed with the same light-hearted alacrity, although
the last five miles tried their endurance. They had abandoned the high
road, leaving the village of Prosnes to their right, in order to avail
themselves of a short cut across a sandy heath diversified by an
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