Chapter 9

           

           TheFifthcompanywasbivouackingattheveryedgeoftheforest.Ahugecampfirewasblazingbrightlyinthemidstofthesnow,lightingupthebranchesoftreesheavywithhoarfrost.

           Aboutmidnighttheyheardthesoundofstepsinthesnowoftheforest,andthecracklingofdrybranches.

           “Abear,lads,”saidoneofthemen.

           Theyallraisedtheirheadstolisten,andoutoftheforestintothebrightfirelightsteppedtwostrangelycladhumanfiguresclingingtooneanother.

           TheseweretwoFrenchmenwhohadbeenhidingintheforest.Theycameuptothefire,hoarselyutteringsomethinginalanguageoursoldiersdidnotunderstand.Onewastallerthantheother;heworeanofficer’shatandseemedquiteexhausted.Onapproachingthefirehehadbeengoingtositdown,butfell.Theother,ashortsturdysoldierwithashawltiedroundhishead,wasstronger.Heraisedhiscompanionandsaidsomething,pointingtohismouth.ThesoldierssurroundedtheFrenchmen,spreadagreatcoatonthegroundforthesickman,andbroughtsomebuckwheatporridgeandvodkaforbothofthem.

           TheexhaustedFrenchofficerwasRamballeandthemanwithhisheadwrappedintheshawlwasMorel,hisorderly.

           WhenMorelhaddrunksomevodkaandfinishedhisbowlofporridgehesuddenlybecameunnaturallymerryandchatteredincessantlytothesoldiers,whocouldnotunderstandhim.Ramballerefusedfoodandrestinghisheadonhiselbowlaysilentbesidethecampfire,lookingattheRussiansoldierswithredandvacanteyes.Occasionallyheemittedalong-drawngroanandthenagainbecamesilent.

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