Chapter 5

           

           FromSmolénskthetroopscontinuedtoretreat,followedbytheenemy.OnthetenthofAugusttheregimentPrinceAndrewcommandedwasmarchingalongthehighroadpasttheavenueleadingtoBaldHills.Heatanddroughthadcontinuedformorethanthreeweeks.Eachdayfleecycloudsfloatedacrosstheskyandoccasionallyveiledthesun,buttowardeveningtheskyclearedagainandthesunsetinreddish-brownmist.Heavynightdewsalonerefreshedtheearth.Theunreapedcornwasscorchedandsheditsgrain.Themarshesdriedup.Thecattlelowedfromhunger,findingnofoodonthesun-parchedmeadows.Onlyatnightandintheforestswhilethedewlastedwasthereanyfreshness.Butontheroad,thehighroadalongwhichthetroopsmarched,therewasnosuchfreshnessevenatnightorwhentheroadpassedthroughtheforest;thedewwasimperceptibleonthesandydustchurnedupmorethansixinchesdeep.Assoonasdaydawnedthemarchbegan.Theartilleryandbaggagewagonsmovednoiselesslythroughthedeepdustthatrosetotheveryhubsofthewheels,andtheinfantrysankankle-deepinthatsoft,choking,hotdustthatnevercooledevenatnight.Someofthisdustwaskneadedbythefeetandwheels,whiletherestroseandhunglikeacloudoverthetroops,settlingineyes,ears,hair,andnostrils,andworstofallinthelungsofthemenandbeastsastheymovedalongthatroad.Thehigherthesunrosethehigherrosethatcloudofdust,andthroughthescreenofitshotfineparticlesonecouldlookwithnakedeyeatthesun,whichshowedlikeahugecrimsonballintheuncloudedsky.

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