He was bewildered. As he ran with his comrades he
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aculties seemed to be needed to guide him over and pastobstructions. He felt carried along by a mob. The sun spread disclosing rays, and, one by one, regimentsburst into view like armed men just born of the earth. The youthperceived that the time had come. He was about to be measured.For a moment he felt in the face of his great trial like a babe, andthe flesh over his heart seemed very thin. He seized time to lookabout him calculatingly. But he instantly saw that it would be impossible for him toescape from the regiment. It inclosed him. And there were ironlaws of tradition and law on four sides. He was in a moving box. As he perceived this fact it occurred to him that he hadnever wished to come to the war. He had not enlisted of his freewill. He had been dragged by the merciless government. Andnow they were taking him out to be slaughtered. The regiment slid down a bank and wallowed across a littlestream. The mournful current moved slowly on, and from thewater, shaded black, some white bubble eyes looked at the men. As they climbed the hill on the farther side artillery began toboom. Here the youth forgot many things as he felt a suddenimpulse of curiosity. He scrambled up the bank with a speed thatcould not be exceeded by a bloodthirsty man.
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