पृष्ठ 480 / 3800

He looked with disdain at the endless confused mass of

detachments, carts, guns, artillery, and again baggage wagons and

vehicles of all kinds overtaking one another and blocking the

muddy road, three and sometimes four abreast. From all sides,

behind and before, as far as ear could reach, there were the

rattle of wheels, the creaking of carts and gun carriages, the

tramp of horses, the crack of whips, shouts, the urging of

horses, and the swearing of soldiers, orderlies, and officers.

All along the sides of the road fallen horses were to be seen,

some flayed, some not, and broken-down carts beside which

solitary soldiers sat waiting for something, and again soldiers

straggling from their companies, crowds of whom set off to the

neighboring villages, or returned from them dragging sheep,

fowls, hay, and bulging sacks. At each ascent or descent of the

road the crowds were yet denser and the din of shouting more

incessant.