in the
shadows, and the strained, tense sensation of expectant anxiety that
hung, miasma-like, in the air became more strained, more feverish, as
they waited for telegrams that seemed as if they would never come.
In the distance, at the farmhouse, the candle that lighted the
dreary watches of the staff burned up more brightly, with an erect,
unflickering flame, as if it had been of wax instead of tallow.

But it was ten o'clock, and Gaude, rising to his feet from the ground
where he had been lost in the darkness, sounded taps, the first in all
the camp. Other bugles, far and near, took up the strain, and it passed
away in the distance with a dying, melancholy wail, as if the angel of
slumber had already brushed with his wings the weary men. And Weiss, who
had lingered there so late, embraced Maurice affectionately; courage,
and hope! he would kiss Henriette for her brother and would have many
things to tell uncle Fouchard when they met. Then, just as he was
turning to go, a rumor began to circulate, accompanied by the wildest
excitement. A great victory had been won by Marshal MacMahon, so the
report ran; the Crown Prince of Prussia a prisoner, with twenty-five
thousand men, the enemy's army repulsed and utterly destroyed, its guns
and baggage abandoned to the victors.

"Didn't I tell you so!" shouted Rochas, in his most thundering voice.
Then, running after Weiss, who, light of heart, was hastening to get
back to Mulhausen: "To Berlin, sir, and we'll kick them every step of
the way!"

A quarter of an hour later came another dispatch, announcing that the
army had been compelled to evacuate Woerth and was retreating. Ah, what
a night was that! Rochas, overpowered by sleep, wrapped his cloak about
him, threw himself down on the bare ground, as he had done many a time
before. Maurice and Jean sought the shelter of the tent, into which were
crowded, a confused tangle of arms and legs, Loubet, Chouteau, Pache,
and Lapoulle, their heads resting on their knapsacks. There was room for
six, provided they were careful how they disposed of their legs. Loubet,
by way of diverting his comrades and making them forget their hunger,
had labored for some time to convince Lapoulle that there was to be a
ration of poultry issued the next morning, but they were too sleepy to
keep up the joke; they were snoring, and the Prussians might come, it
was all one to them. Jean lay for a moment without stirring, pressing
close against Maurice; n