before Valmy. Entirely disorganized, their only defense battalions of
laborers and countrymen handling a gun for the first time. . . . But,
nevertheless, the Europe of the old monarchies could not for twenty
years free themselves from these improvised warriors!"



CHAPTER V

IN WHICH APPEAR THE FOUR HORSEMEN


The two friends now lived a feverish life, considerably accelerated by
the rapidity with which events succeeded each other. Every hour brought
forth an astonishing bit of news--generally false--which changed
opinions very suddenly. As soon as the danger of war seemed arrested,
the report would spread that mobilization was going to be ordered within
a few minutes.

Within each twenty-four hours were compressed the disquietude, anxiety
and nervous waste of a normal year. And that which was aggravating the
situation still more was the uncertainty, the expectation of the
event, feared but still invisible, the distress on account of a danger
continually threatening but never arriving.

History in the making was like a stream overflowing its banks, events
overlapping each other like the waves of an inundation. Austria was
declaring war with Servia while the diplomats of the great powers were
continuing their efforts to stem the tide. The electric web girdling the
planet was vibrating incessantly in the depths of the ocean and on the