第24节
eofnd,andheyobe reliedupon.henceforherein,ordifference, beteersoftherps. anotherfourdayspassedandastheexofficerofengineersuld suggestainplan,forthedestruofthetunnel,h uldbeehesentries atitsuthjorteeresolvedupondelayingno longer;butonsendingfournintothetunnel,underlieutenant ribouville,hinstrustogoasfarastheyuldina quarterofanhour,tosetdohebarrelsagainsttherock,to lightafusecuttobuaquarterofanhour,aoretu atfullspeedtotheuthofthetunnel. onepaheotherend,totearupseve,or tenrails,andtoretireatoothehedelayin gettingtherailsintotheirplacesagainanytrain entering,frohatend,intiforitsoctstoseeand extinguishthebuingfuse. theotherpanyojointheheadquarters, theeveningbeforetheattet;andithatthethree pabayforhalfanhour, soastogivetitothepartyhthenitroglyceriotakeit totherequiredposition,andrejointheirrades.iediately upontheirdoingsotheretreatheeneuld notpossiblyperatethetunnel,ainguishthefuse,before theexplosiontookplace. theattetadetillthefollowingevening;inorder thatthebarclaysghtgodohatall savee,andalongtheliheday,agly,theboys againputontheirdisguisesandstarted;asbefore,takingthe precautiontogeiobeseenbyanyof thevillagers.uponreahe tuaneous exay.notonlyriesstationednear theentrasofifteenortansoldierswere sittingorstandingbyasllbuilding,atashortdistance,h hadevidentlybeeoaguardhouse. ”thislooksverychagainstus,ralph.onehinkthatthey hadgotinfortionofourbeingnear.” ”itlooksbad,indeed,percy.letusgoonintothetown.weshall, perhaps,leasothingaboutit,there.” asharptosavee.asentryyat theentrahetoradesstoodnear. thesentrylookedasifabouttostopthebutseeing,hey caup,thattheypasshout question. ”hingisup,sureenough.” thisbecareevidentateverysteptheytook,forthelittle toansoldiers. ”uheyarerelyhaltinghere,upontheirrchthrough,it isallupustbeoverten here,attheveryleast.” upoioningaladofthetotheirohey foundthatthefreshtroopshadarriveduponthepregday;the infantrytinginbytrain,lateinthe eveningbefore;andthreehundredhedin,onlyhalfan hourbeforetheboysarrival.theyereduponthe inhabitants,andthereappearedtobenosignoftheirearly departure. forsotitheboys,houtobtainingany infortion;althoughtheyenteredadozencabarets,anddrank nsiderablequantitiesofbeer.atlast,beforeohe prinafes,theysaanofficerssitting, talking.heinhabitantstingatthecafe;andthe boysdarednotgointoaskforanything,there,asit havebeeninacehtheirappearance. ”hoogethinhearing,percy” ”lookhere,ralph;ipalong,asifihadsothingin shoee.thenidoep,closeto theandtakeoffboot.yousitdoeof thebreadandcheeseinourpoauseould atthelastplaceybootoff, toeasefoot;andourbreadandcheese,asslowlyas welike.” ”thatally,percy.” inanotherupleofhetting,asagreed, upoepofadoorclosetothecafe.theyuldnothearall thatan officersasistheircustopokeinaveryloudvoice.they beloheinfantry;andappeared,inignoranceof thereasonoftheirsuddeosavee. presentlyaealoreet. ”ah,vonrausen,”ajorintheinfantryexclaid,”areyouhere ihavenotseenyousinarchedfrolentz.” ”no,indeed,jor,”theothersaid,salutingasaprussian officeralohissuperiorinraherinfantry officersallrising,andsalutingintu.”ein froagenau.” ”areyouinahurry”askedthejor.”ifnot,sitdous talk.” thecavalryoffieptedtheinvitationand,forafeinutes, theirtalkranupontualfriends.thenthejorsaid: ”bytheledoff atantsnotiooneknoofursethe lonel,andhehasnotthoughtnecessarytotellusand, naturally,.” ”doyounotknoainvonrausensaid.”itisat least,hepeoplehere.iwill speakinfrenodoubtthereareplentyofspiesabout.” ”thereisnooneinhearing,”thejorsaid,”exceptthosetwo stupidlookinglads,ngbreadandcheese.” ”therelikelytobespies,”vonrausensaid.”fellowswholook likefoolsarejustthepeoplechosen.” ”ajorsaid;”h uandit,andhen,ifallsaveewere listening.” ”yes,thatwillbesafe. ”atioerday,thatthat rpsoffranctireursont,the otherday,arehidupinsovillageinthewoods,fourorfive lesfroere;nodoubtakinga toblohetuheideaisadaringoneand,iftheplan hadsueeded,it.asitis, orroakean expedition,ary. ”thesefranctireursischievousifa sharplesson.thegeneralsproethateveryone oftheakenanto carryouttheorder.” ...