FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127  
128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   >>   >|  
a mere rock in the stream, was so situated as to command the bridge between Eslar and the German bank, and I could not help wondering that the Austrians had never taken the precaution to strengthen it, or at least place a gun there, to enfilade the bridge. Now, to my extreme astonishment, I saw it occupied by the soldiery, who, doubtless, were artillery, as in such a position small arms would prove of slight efficiency. As I reflected over this, wondering within myself if any intimation of our movements could have reached the enemy, I heard along the ground on which I was lying the peculiar tremulous, dull sound communicated by a large body of men marching. The measured tramp could not be mistaken, and as I listened I could perceive that a force was moving towards the river from different quarters. The rumbling roll of heavy guns and the clattering noise of cavalry were also easily distinguished, and awaking one of my comrades I called his attention to the sounds. '_Parbleu!_' said he, 'thou'rt right; they're going to make a dash at the fortress, and there will be hot work ere morning. What say you now, corporal? has Maurice hit it off this time?' 'That's as it may be,' growled the other sulkily; 'guessing is easy work ever for such as thee! but if he be so clever, let him tell us why are we stationed along the river's bank in small detachments. We have had no orders to observe the enemy, nor to report upon anything that might go forward; nor do I see with what object we were to secure the fishing-boats; troops could never be conveyed across the Rhine in skiffs like these!' 'I think that this order was given to prevent any of the fishermen giving information to the enemy in case of a sudden attack,' replied I. 'Mayhap thou wert at the council of war when the plan was decided on,' said he contemptuously. 'For a fellow that never saw the smoke of an enemy's gun, thou hast a rare audacity in talking of war!' 'Yonder is the best answer to your taunt,' said I, as, in a little bend of the stream beside us, two boats were seen to pull under the shelter of the tall alders, from which the clank of arms could be plainly heard; and now another larger launch swept past, the dark shadows of a dense crowd of men showing above the gunwale. 'They are embarking--they are certainly embarking,' now ran from mouth to mouth. As the troops arrived at the river's bank they were speedily 'told off' in separate divisions, of which
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127  
128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
stream
 

troops

 

bridge

 

embarking

 

wondering

 
conveyed
 
speedily
 

fishing

 
skiffs
 

prevent


fishermen

 

giving

 
clever
 

secure

 
information
 

divisions

 
observe
 
report
 

separate

 

forward


detachments

 

stationed

 

orders

 

object

 

shelter

 

alders

 

plainly

 

showing

 

gunwale

 

shadows


larger

 
launch
 

council

 

decided

 

Mayhap

 
sudden
 

attack

 
replied
 

arrived

 
contemptuously

Yonder
 

talking

 
answer
 
audacity
 

fellow

 

intimation

 
movements
 

reached

 
slight
 

efficiency