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

I
2 30 MILITAR Y LIFE.
was on the edge of the camp comes to the centre ;
under the
sutler's tent the customers have sprung to their feet on to the
benches and tables ;
others have climbed on to the wagons.
Every one has come out of the tents. What has happened ?
What is the matter ?
Look up the road. A horseman is
advancing on a gallop,
enveloped in a cloud of dust is
; quite near the entrance,
starts toward the colonel's tent, and stops. The colonel
comes out ;
the horseman salutes, hands him a paper, turns,
and gallops off.
All eyes are turned in that direction, every one is astonished
and silent. One would say that every one was holding his
breath ;
the camp looks like a square filled with people intent
on fireworks when the unexpected glare of the Bengal light
illumines ten thousand faces with wide-stretched eyes and open
mouths.
The colonel opens the paper, turns toward the trumpeter,
makes a sign.
. . .
Before the first blast has sounded, a universal, prolonged,
and very loud shout bursts out like a thunder-clap, rises to
heaven from all sides of the camp the entire scattered multitude
starts in every direction with startling rapidity the
;
;
benches and tables of the sutler are deserted in an instant ;
the poor man dashes his hands into his hair ; quick down
!
with the tent, out with the boxes, in with plates, cabbages,
sausages, bottles, clothes, chickens, cigars, every thing in confusion
;
time flies ;
another blast of the trumpet is imminent ;
the officers wander hastily about the camp, calling in a loud
voice for their orderlies, who arrive breathless and dripping
with perspiration. Quick take hold of the boxes, in with
!