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body。 It was a little； lowly place； it might well have been left in peace。 It
had had no more share in the war than a child still unborn； but it came in
the victors' way； and their mailed heel crushed it as they passed。 They had
heard that arms were hidden and francs…tireurs sheltered there； and they
had swooped down on it and held it hard and fast。 Some were told off to
search the chapel； some to ransack the dwellings； some to seize such food
and bring such cattle as there might be left； some to seek out the devious
paths that crossed and recrossed the fields； and yet there remained in the
little street hundreds of armed men； force enough to awe a citadel or storm
a breach。
The people did not attempt to resist。 They stood passive； dry…eyed in
misery； looking on while the little treasures of their household lives were
swept away for ever； and ignorant what fate by fire or iron might be their
portion ere the night was done。 They saw the corn that was their winter
store to save their offspring from famine poured out like ditch…water。 They
saw oats and wheat flung down to be trodden into a slough of mud and
filth。 They saw the walnut presses in their kitchens broken open； and their
old heirlooms of silver； centuries old； borne away as booty。 They saw the
oak cupboards in their wives' bed…chambers ransacked； and the homespun
linen and the quaint bits of plate that had formed their nuptial dowers cast
aside in derision or trampled into a battered heap。 They saw the pet lamb
of their infants； the silver ear… rings of their brides； the brave tankards they
had drunk their marriage wine in； the tame bird that flew to their whistle；
all seized for food or seized for spoil。 They saw all this； and had to stand
by with mute tongues and passive hands； lest any glance of wrath or
gesture of revenge should bring the leaden bullet in their children's throats
or the yellow flame amid their homesteads。 Greater agony the world
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cannot hold。
Under the porch of the cottage； by the sycamores； one group stood and
looked； silent and very still： Bernadou； erect； pale； calm； with a fierce
scorn burning in his eyes； Margot； quiet because he wished her so； holding
to her the rosy and golden beauty of her son； Reine Allix； with a patient
horror on her face； her figure drawn to its full height； and her hands
holding to her breast the crucifix。 They stood thus； waiting they knew not
what； only resolute to show no cowardice and meet no shame。
Behind them was the dull； waning glow of the wood fire on the hearth
which had been the centre of all their hopes and joys； before them the dim；
dark country； and the woe…stricken faces of their neighbours； and the
moving soldiery with their torches； and the quivering forms of the half…
dying horses。
Suddenly a voice arose from the armed mass： 〃Bring me the peasant
hither。〃
Bernadou was seized by several hands and forced and dragged from
his door out to the place where the leader of the uhlans sat on a white
charger that shook and snorted blood in its exhaustion。 Bernadou cast off
the alien grasp that held him； and stood erect before his foes。 He was no
longer pale； and his eyes were clear and steadfast。
〃You look less a fool than the rest；〃 said the Prussian commander。
〃You know this country well？〃
〃Well！〃 The country in whose fields and woodlands he had wandered
from his infancy； and whose every meadow…path and wayside tree and
flower… sown brook he knew by heart as a lover knows the lines of his
mistress's face！
〃You have arms here？〃 pursued the German。
〃We had。〃
〃What have you done with them？〃
〃If I had had my way； you would not need ask。 You would have felt
them。〃
The Prussian looked at him keenly； doing homage to the boldness of
the answer。 〃Will you confess where they are？〃
〃No。〃
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〃You know the penalty for concealment of arms is death？〃
〃You have made it so。〃
〃We have； and Prussian will is French law。 You are a bold man； you
merit death。 But still； you know the country well？〃
Bernadou smiled； as a mother might smile were any foolish enough to
ask her if she remembered the look her dead child's face had worn。
〃If you know it well；〃 pursued the Prussian； 〃I will give you a chance。
Lay hold of my stirrup…leather and be lashed to it； and show me straight as
the crow flies to where the weapons are hidden。 If you do； I will leave you
your life。 If you do not〃
〃If I do not？〃
〃You will be shot。〃
Bernadou was silent； his eyes glanced through the mass of soldiers to
the little cottage under the trees opposite。 The two there were straining to
behold him； but the soldiers pushed them back； so that in the flare of the
torches they could not see； nor in the tumult hear。 He thanked God for it。
〃Your choice？〃 asked the uhlan； impatiently； after a moment's pause。
Bernadou's lips were white； but they did not tremble as he answered； 〃I
am no traitor。〃 And his eyes； as he spoke； went softly to the little porch
where the light glowed from that hearth beside which he would never
again sit with the creatures he loved around him。
The German looked at him。 〃Is that a boast； or a fact？〃
〃I am no traitor；〃 Bernadou answered； simply； once more。
The Prussian gave a sign to his troopers。 There was the sharp report of
a double shot； and Bernadou fell dead。 One bullet had pierced his brain；
the other was bedded in his lungs。 The soldiers kicked aside the warm and
quivering body。 It was only a peasant killed！
With a shriek that rose above the roar of the wind； and cut like steel to
every human heart that beat there； Reine Allix forced her way through the
throng； and fell on her knees beside him； and caught him in her arms； and
laid his head upon her breast； where he had used to sleep his softest sleep
in infancy and childhood。 〃It is God's will！ it is God's will！〃 she muttered；
and then she laugheda laugh so terrible that the blood of the boldest there
ran cold。
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Margot followed her and looked； and stood dry…eyed and silent； then
flung herself and the child she carried in her arms beneath the hoof of the
white charger。 〃End your work！〃 she shrieked to them。 〃You have killed
himkill us。 Have you not mercy enough for that？〃
The horse； terrified and snorting blood； plunged and trampled the
ground； his fore foot struck the child's golden head and stamped its face
out of all human likeness。 Some peasants pulled Margot from the lashing
hoofs； she was quite dead； though neither wound nor bruise was on her。
Reine Allix neither looked nor paused。 With all her strength she had
begun to drag the body of Bernadou across the threshold of his house。 〃He
shall lie at home； he shall lie at home；〃 she muttered。 She would not
believe that already he was dead。 With all the force of her earliest
womanhood she lifted him； and half drew； half bore him into the house
that he had loved； and laid him down upon the hearth； and knelt by him；
caressing him as though he were once more a child； and saying softly；
〃Hush！〃for her mind was gone； and she fancied that he only slept。
Without； the tumult of the soldiery increased。 They found the arms
hidden under the altar on the hill； they seized five peasants to slay them
for the dire offence。 The men struggled； and would not go as the sheep to
the shambles。 They were shot down in the street； before the eyes of their
children。 Then the order was given to fire the place in punishment； and
leave it to its fate。 The torches were flung with a laugh on the dry thatched
roofs； brands snatched from the house fires on the hearths were tossed
among the dwelling…houses and the barns。 The straw and timber flared
alight like tow。
An old man； her nearest neighbour； rushed to the cottage of Reine
Allix and seized her by the arm。 〃They fire the Berceau；〃 he screamed。
〃Quick！ quick！ or you will be burne