ng around.' (Campagne in Frankreich, p. 103.) On the
eleventh morning of October, the World-Poet, struggling Northwards out
of Verdun, which he had entered Southwards, some five weeks ago, in
quite other order, discerned the following Phenomenon and formed part of
it:

'Towards three in the morning, without having had any sleep, we were
about mounting our carriage, drawn up at the door; when an insuperable
obstacle disclosed itself: for there rolled on already, between the
pavement-stones which were crushed up into a ridge on each side, an
uninterrupted column of sick-wagons through the Town, and all was
trodden as into a morass. While we stood waiting what could be made
of it, our Landlord the Knight of Saint-Louis pressed past us, without
salutation.' He had been a Calonne's Notable in 1787, an Emigrant since;
had returned to his home, jubilant, with the Prussians; but must now
forth again into the wide world, 'followed by a servant carrying a
little bundle on his stick.

'The activity of our alert Lisieux shone eminent; and, on this occasion
too, brought us on: for he struck into a small gap of the wagon-row; and
held the advancing team back till we, with our six and our four horses,
got intercalated; after which, in my light little coachlet, I could
breathe freer. We were now under way; at a funeral pace, but still under
way. The day broke; we found ourselves at the outlet of the Town, in a
tumult and turmoil without measure. All sorts of vehicles, few horsemen,
innumerable foot-people, were crossing each other on the great esplanade
before the Gate. We turned to the right, with our Column,
towards Estain, on a limited highway, with ditches at each side.
Self-preservation, in so monstrous a press, knew now no pity, no
respect of aught. Not far before us there fell down a horse of an
ammunition-wagon: they cut the traces, and let it lie. And now as the
three others could not bring their load along, they cut them also loose,
tumbled the heavy-packed vehicle into the ditch; and, with the smallest
retardation, we had to drive on, right over the horse, which was just
about to rise; and I saw too clearly how its legs, under the wheels,
went crashing and quivering.

'Horse and foot endeavoured to escape from the narrow laborious highway
into the meadows: but these too were rained to ruin; overflowed by full
ditches, the connexion of the footpaths every where interrupted. Four
gentlemanlike, handsome, well-dressed French