第23节
tchislighted,fallbackifpossiblebeforethearrivalof heavybodiesoftheene.” ”nothinguldbebetter,”lieutenantdeupasexclaid,andthe otherofficersagreed. ”ovent” ”thedayaftertorropesaid.”thatwill giveusplentyoftitosendorderstotheothertpanies; andthesooisdohebetter.” theobreakup,hesurgeonwhohad listenedinsilencesaid: ”thegeneralplanissileenoughbut,tell,howdoyoupropose tosetaboutbloaybeabletoholditfor halfanhour,atst.hohinkofproceeding” jorteeandhisofficerslookedateachother.theyhadnot,as yet,thoughtthetterover;buttheinstantitplainly beforethetheysahedifficulty. ”oh,”lieutenantdeupassaid,ly,”ourse, putthenitroglyesoiddleofthetunnel,and blohewholeaffairup.” lieutenantdeupashadbeenasailor;andhisquiessof decisionandgoahead,straightf dehiatoothen;whohad niadhigraesse,”or,asweshouldsayinenglish, the”express.” ”iafraidthetterisratherrediffiagine, deupas,”jorteesaid,ile.”thisisin ribouvillesheengineers,hewillknowall aboutit.” theoffie;but sathhisheadonhishand,ihought. ”ifeelashadtoo,”hesaid,atlast;”butireallydonot knoattersoastohaveaceof reallydestroyiunnel,aftersoshortatifor <,briedtuhe propositionofdeupasslightlydifiedhave theeffectingdohebriing,ahbehind self;buthatuinthesolidrock, it.thenaturalstrengthofthetunnelwouldbe sogreatthattheforceoftheexplosionplybelost, throughtheends.itghthtndoassesof rock,butoneuldnotrelyuponitdoihat. ”ifihadti,thetterakea deepchaerinthesolidrock,atthesideofthetunnel;i charge,aaorfastenitin,asonry.thiswould esdestru,atthepointofexplosion;butihaveno hopeofadagebeingdone,byrelyputtingtwobarrels ofnitroglyedo.i assureyouthepoihedooreseriousand,as farasiseeatpresent,iulddonothinginhalfanhourh ake suhaerasispeakoftohlye heanddayeven htheaidofpoofthe questiontohopeforasnyhours.” thereeation,aslieutenantribouvillespoke. heree,froeyhadexpected soch.atthisti,thegernshadnootherlineofrailat theirnd;aruofthetunnelwouldhavebeena disaster,equaltothatofthelossofapitchedbattle. ”therehere,ofourhidinginthewoods uunnelruns;soastoboredooit,andblo infrobove”jorteeasked. ”nohedepthtobeboredhe stoneishard,andituldnotbepiercedhouttheuseof porayourpresendevenuld, andenallgoodners,itonths,at theveryleast.” thereenutes,ahendantsaid: ”giveitup,houtatrial.thinkitover,ribouville, forthehreeorfourdays.youybeabletopite plan.ifyouentof explodinglyeintheddleofthetunnelor,at anyrate,asfarinasakeourretreatinthe halfhour,eeuponholdingthe entrance.” chapter7:abaffledproject. beforeleavingtheheadquartersofthendant,theyoung barclaysaskedifhehattheyshouldntiokeep silenandant repliedthathedidhatitulddoanyharprovided thattheyiressedupontheirradestheyof intaininganabsolutesilenceuponthesubject,he peopleoftheneighborhood.althoughthevillagers ghtappeartouandnolanguagebutgeryet knoogleanraitorously inouslyihe dangerhebarclaysshouldagaingodoothetown. theirusinshadalreadyheardoftheirretu;fortheboys,upon sittingdondants,hadrequestedleaveto sendaliotheirusins,ing the ”halloyoubarclay,o,allday”he generalexclation,astheyentered. ”onduty,”ralphsaid. ”ondutyyes,butysterious,and hing.thesergeanthereknehingaboutit,except thatourlieutenanttoldhihatyouhadleave;andirishtias beenhangingaboutallday,asrestlessasahathaslostits calf.” ”wehavebeendoosavee,”ralphsaid. thereationofastonishnt.thoseofthen heirstrahenightsatup again,andallcroohearralphsstory, ooldatlength;andh,whenfinished,gaverisehereas ithaddoheoffiateddiscussion. severalofthenshookhandslyhthebarclays, ngratulatiheiroffertouakethisdangerous serviation heyhadobtained. frohistiforenpttopassjokesat theexpenseofanyoftheboys.herpsraised, nyoftheyoungnhadbeeninedtoprotestagainstboys beingaepted,helistuldhavebeenreadilyfilledh nbut,bythisti,theboyshadprovedthattheyeas capableofsuppfatigueasen.theyhadbehaved equallyion;anderpriseofthebarclays testifiedtothefactthat,inadangerousexpeditionrequiring olness,presenc ...