What most astonished him in looking over this
landscape, smiling and lovely in the morning light, was that nobody was
to be seen--absolutely nobody. Mountain tops and forests were bellowing
without anyone's being in evidence. There must be more than a hundred
thousand men in the space swept by his piercing gaze, and yet not a
human being was visible. The deadly boom of arms was causing the air to
vibrate without leaving any optical trace. There was no other smoke but
that of the explosions, the black spirals that were flinging their
great shells to burst on the ground. These were rising on all sides,
encircling the castle like a ring of giant tops, but not one of that
orderly circle ventured to touch the edifice. Don Marcelo again stared
at the Red Cross flag. "It is treachery!" he kept repeating; yet at the
same time he was selfishly rejoicing in the base expedient, since it
served to defend his property.
The battalion was at last completely installed the entire length of the
wall, opposite the river. The soldiers, kneeling, were supporting their
guns on the newly made turrets and grooves, and seemed satisfied with
this rest after a night of battling retreat. They all appeared sleeping
with their eyes open. Little by little they were letting themselves drop
back on their heels, or seeking the support of their knapsacks.
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