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

41 8 MILITARY LIFE.
which appeared the blackened and swollen members ;
others
thrown across the door-sills, half in and half out of the
houses.
" " Look, Mr. Officer ! exclaimed the peasant, sadly.
" We will provide for "
all," replied Cangiario ; keep up your
"
courage !
At that point, the crowd of fugitives, who had been driven
back by those ten soldiers, came tumultuously toward the officer.
" Draw up in line !
" he shouted, turning to the soldiers ;
and they stopped and drew up across the street. Cangiano
waited quietly and firmly for the crowd. The latter stopped
within ten paces, ceased shouting, and stood looking angrily at
the soldiers. They were all poor, ragged people, with pale
and thin faces, staring eyes, physiognomies to which their long
sufferings had given an expression of deadly weariness and savage
" "
pride. We wish to !
go away shouted a voice from the
crowd. All repeated the cry, and the crowd swayed backward
"
and forward. Why do you wish to go " ? asked Cangiano in
a resolute voice which was tempered with sweetness.
" You
must remain where you are and help each other. All must
help in a general misfortune. It is a bad thing for each to
think of himself and not for all ... We have come to
help you." "We wish to go away!" shouted the crowd,
threateningly ;
and those at the back pressing hard, the fore-
" "
Stand back !
most were thrown two or three steps forward.
"
said Cangiano calmly, then added in a loud voice :
Listen to
my advice the women and children shall go into the houses : ;
the men remain to help the soldiers bury the dead." "
We do
"
not wish to die ! replied the multitude imperiously, and
shouting louder still, they moved and swayed again a$ if to