government supervision. Private
efforts will only bring confusion and hardship where we would have order
and all possible mercy. As for the old, the sick, and the infirm--those
who cannot bear being carried far are being moved to the hospital and
barracks outside the town."

In proof of his words, ambulances and requisitioned carriages filled
with the sick and infirm were already proceeding up one of the side
streets.

"It's not human, though!" Marta exclaimed in the desperation of
helplessness.

"No, it is war, which has a habit of being inhuman," replied the major,
turning to call to a woman: "Now, madame, if you leave that pillow
behind you will not be dropping your other things and having to stop all
the time to pick them up!"

"But it's the finest goose feathers and last year's crop!" said the
woman; and then gasped: "Oh, Lord! I left my silver jug on the mantel!"

"As I've told you before--as the printed slips we distributed when we
woke you at dawn told you," said the major with some asperity, "you were
to take only light things easily portable, and after you had gone,
wagons would get what you had packed and left ready at the door of your
houses, with your names clearly marked, up to two hundred pounds. The
rest we trust to the mercy of the Grays."

There was nothing for Marta to do but start homeward. The thought that
her mother was alone made her hasten at a pace much more rapid than the
procession of people, whose talk and exclamations formed a monotone
audible in its nearness, despite the continuous rifle-fire, now broken
by the pounding of the guns.

"I wish I had brought the clock--it was my great-grandfather's."

"Johnny, you keep close to me!"

"And they've taken my wife off to the hospital--separated us!"

Some were excruciatingly alive to the situation; others were in a daze.
But one cry always roused them from their complaints; always brought a
flash to the dullest eye: Retribution! retribution! Taken from their
peaceful pursuits arbitrarily by the final authority of physical force,
which they could not dispute, their minds turned in primitive passion to
revenge through physical force.

"I hope our army makes them pay!"

"Yes, make them pay! Make them pay!"

"It's all done to beat the Grays, isn't it, Miss Galland? They are
trying to take our land," said Jacky Werther as Marta parted from him.

"Yes, it is done to beat the Grays," she answered. "Good luck, Jacky!"

Yes, yes, to bea