Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

200 MILITARY LIFE.
the weight of hurrying steps, and doors creak and burst open
under the blows of the muskets. The besieged t
wander here
and there in despair, hide in the fire-places, behind the furniture
and doors ;
the besiegers rush shouting on to them,
scatter them, hunt them, discover them, drive them out, and
drag them along, streaking the floor and stairs with blood ;
the conquered will not surrender ;
the prisoners revolt, break
away, throw themselves from the windows, and dash into the
court-yard, or get transfixed with bayonets in their backs, and
fall dead in the door-ways ;
others try to escape by the roofs ;
others, wounded and dripping with blood, drag themselves out
of the fray. The defenders of the flag are at the end of their
resources. Surrender ! our men shout. No ! no !
they
'
'
'
'
reply in a stifled voice. '
Death first !
Suddenly a loud
'
shout is heard which resounds through the house, and at the
same moment a man dashes out of the crowd with the enemy's
flag in his hand, his forehead aloft and shining, but lacerated
and bleeding.
'
Hurrah !
'
shout a hundred voices throughout
the house. A blast of the trumpet is heard. '
What ?
What has happened ? Retreat ? How is that ? Why
? It is
impossible ! Silence '
Another blast of the ! trumpet, and a
thundering shout from the '
major Retreat : ! Retreat ?
'
'
we ? now ?
why ? It is a mistake ! It is '
impossible We are
!
out of the house, the major points out the direction of the
road, the other battalions are already in motion. Heavenly
Father ! we retreat !
Captain, captain, in heaven's name
'
why are we retreating ? '
The captain, without saying a word,
turns toward the enemy and stretches out his arm in the
direction of the plain to point out '
something. Look . . .'
There was an interminable column of the enemy advancing at
our back, and losing itself in the green of the country.