n case the day
should go against them; owing to this want of foresight every general
was at liberty to act as seemed to him best, and at this stage of the
conflict they all found themselves being crowded back upon Sedan
under the steady, unrelaxing pressure of the German armies. The second
division of the 7th corps fell back in comparatively good order, while
the remnants of the other divisions, mingled with the debris of the
1st corps, were already streaming into the city in terrible disorder, a
roaring torrent of rage and fright that bore all, men and beasts, before
it.

But to Maurice, at that moment, was granted the satisfaction of seeing
Jean unclose his eyes, and as he was running to a stream that flowed
near by, for water with which to bathe his friend's face, he was
surprised, looking down on his right into a sheltered valley that lay
between rugged slopes, to behold the same peasant whom he had seen that
morning, still leisurely driving the plow through the furrow with the
assistance of his big white horse. Why should he lose a day? Men might
fight, but none the less the corn would keep on growing; and folks must
live.

VI.

Up on his lofty terrace, whither he had betaken himself to watch how
affairs were shaping, Delaherche at last became impatient and was seized
with an uncontrollable desire for news. He could see that the enemy's
shells were passing over the city and that the few projectiles which had
fallen on the houses in the vicinity were only responses, made at long
intervals, to the irregular and harmless fire from Fort Palatinat, but
he could discern nothing of the battle, and his agitation was rising to
fever heat; he experienced an imperious longing for intelligence, which
was constantly stimulated by the reflection that his life and fortune
would be in danger should the army be defeated. He found it impossible
to remain there longer, and went downstairs, leaving behind him the
telescope on its tripod, turned on the German batteries.

When he had descended, however, he lingered a moment, detained by the
aspect of the central garden of the factory. It was near one o'clock,
and the ambulance was crowded with wounded men; the wagons kept driving
up to the entrance in an unbroken stream. The regular ambulance wagons
of the medical department, two-wheeled and four-wheeled, were too few
in number to meet the demand, and vehicles of every description from the
artillery and other trains, _prolong