Chapter 7

           

           Whenthetroopsreachedtheirnight’shaltingplaceontheeighthofNovember,thelastdayoftheKrásnoebattles,itwasalreadygrowingdusk.Alldayithadbeencalmandfrostywithoccasionallightlyfallingsnowandtowardeveningitbegantoclear.Throughthefallingsnowapurple-blackandstarryskyshoweditselfandthefrostgrewkeener.

           AninfantryregimentwhichhadleftTarútinothreethousandstrongbutnownumberedonlyninehundredwasoneofthefirsttoarrivethatnightatitshaltingplace—avillageonthehighroad.ThequartermasterswhomettheregimentannouncedthatallthehutswerefullofsickanddeadFrenchmen,cavalrymen,andmembersofthestaff.Therewasonlyonehutavailablefortheregimentalcommander.

           Thecommanderrodeuptohishut.Theregimentpassedthroughthevillageandstackeditsarmsinfrontofthelasthuts.

           Likesomehugemany-limbedanimal,theregimentbegantoprepareitslairanditsfood.Onepartofitdispersedandwadedknee-deepthroughthesnowintoabirchforesttotherightofthevillage,andimmediatelythesoundofaxesandswords,thecrashingofbranches,andmerryvoicescouldbeheardfromthere.Anothersectionamidtheregimentalwagonsandhorseswhichwerestandinginagroupwasbusygettingoutcaldronsandryebiscuit,andfeedingthehorses.Athirdsectionscatteredthroughthevillagearrangingquartersforthestaffofficers,carryingouttheFrenchcorpsesthatwereinthehuts,anddraggingawayboards,drywood,andthatchfromtheroofs,forthecampfires,orwattlefencestoserveforshelter.

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