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

39 MILITARY LIFE.
ing their names among those detailed for the service of nurse
at the hospital, could not restrain a feeling of repugnance and
displeasure so raised their
; eyes " What is the matter ?
and shook their heads.
"
suddenly asked the sergeant, who had
noticed the movement.
"
Nothing." " Then keep quiet."
And the poor fellows did not move again, this being the gravest
protest made by the boldest and least docile.
On the evenings of the days in which the cholera had committed
the greatest ravages throughout the country and among
the troops, one could see all the soldiers quite
intent at rollcall,
motionless as statues, and their faces wearing an expression
rather of astonishment than sorrow, their souls being
more stunned than saddened by such great misfortunes. "Such
and such a one?" asked the quartermaster-sergeant. "He
was seized by the cholera a moment ago, and they have carried
him to the lazzaretto," replied the corporal.
" Such and
such another one ?" The man called replied from the lines :
"
Present," but in a forced and weak voice, in which one could
hear the effect of the sad news. Then a deeper
silence than
usual followed.
On such evenings the officer usually gave them some words
of encouragement and comfort. He placed himself in front of
the company, glanced at the faces in the first line, and then
said what he had to say, always ending with a :
"
Keep up your
courage," which was followed by a slight movement along the
line, which meant " Thanks." A sign to the quartermaster-sergeant,
a word to the sergeant of the "
week, and then, Goodnight,"
he would add, almost involuntarily, as if
responding to
an imperious movement of his heart, and then go away. And
the soldiers followed him with their eyes, which was worth