CHAPTERV

chapterv

intoasmallestaminetattheendoftheruedestroiscailloux,beyondthehoteldeville,cameonedayduringthebattlesofthesommetwopoilus,grizzled,heavymen,deeplybronzed,withwhitedustintheirwrinkles,andtheearthofthebattlefieldsingrainedintheskinoftheirbig,coarsehands.theyorderedtwo“littleglasses”anddrankthematonegulp.thentwomore.

“seewhatihavegot,mylittlecabbage,”saidoneofthem,stoopingtotheheavypackwhichhehadshiftedfromhisshoulderstotheotherseatbesidehim.“itissomethingtomakeyoulaugh.”

“andwhatisthat,myoldone?”saidawomansittingontheothersideofthemarble-toppedtable,withanotherwomanofherownclass,fromthemarketnearby.

themandidnotanswerthequestion,butfumbledintohispack,laughingalittleinaself-satisfiedway.

“ikilledagermantogetit,”hesaid.“hewasapigofanofficer,adirtyboche.verychic,too,andyounglikeaschoolboy.”

oneofthewomenpattedhimontheshoulder.hereyesglistened.

“didyouslithisthroat,thedirtydog?eh,i'dliketogetmyfingersroundtheneckofadirtyboche!”

“ifinishedhimwithagrenade,”saidthepoilu.“itwasgoodenough.itknockedaholeinhimaslargeasacemetery.seethen,mycabbage.itwillmakeyousmile.itisafunnykindofmascot,eh?”

heputonthetableasmallleatherpouchstainedwithablotchofreddishbrown.hisbig,clumsyfingerscouldhardlyundothelittleclasp.

“heworethisnexthisheart,”saidtheman.“perhapshethoughtitwouldbringhimluck.butikilledhimallthesame!'crenomdedieu!”

heundidtheclasp,andhisbigfingerspokedinsidetheflapofthepouch.

“itwasfromhiswoman,hisgermangrue.perhapsevennowshedoesn'tknowhe'sdead.shethinksofhimwearingthisnexttohisheart.'crenomdedieu!itwasithatkilledhimaweekago!”

heheldupsomethinginhishand,andthelightthroughtheestaminetwindowgleamedonit.itwasawoman'slockofhair,likefine-spungold.

thetwowomengaveashrillcryofsurprise,andthenscreamedwithlaughter.oneofthemtriedtograbthehair,butthepoiluheldithigh,beyondherreach,withagruffcommandof,“handsoff!”othersoldiersandwomenintheestaminetgatheredroundstaringattheyellowtress,laughing,makingribaldconjecturesastothecharacterofthewomanfromwhoseheadithadcome.theyagreedthatshewasfatandugly,likeallgermanwomen,andafoulslut.

“she'llneverkissthatfellowagain,”saidoneman.“ouroldonehascutthethroatofthatpigofaboche!”

“i'dliketocutoffallherhairandteartheclothesoffherback,”saidoneofthewomen.“thedirtydrabwithyellowhair!theyoughttobekilled,everyoneofthem,sothatthehumanraceshouldbyridofthem!”

“herloverisabitofclay,anyhow,”saidtheotherwoman.“abitofdirt,asourpoiluswilldoforallofthem.”

thesoldierwiththewoman'shairinhishandstrokeditacrosshisforefinger.

“allthesameitispretty.likegold,eh?ithinkofthewoman,sometimes.withblueeyes,likeagermangirlikissedinparis-adancing-girl!”

therewasahowloflaughterfromthetwowomen.

“theoldoneisdrunk.heisamorouswiththegermancow!”

“iwillkeepitasamascot,”saidthepoilu,scrunchingitupandthrustingitintohispouch.“it'llkeepmeinmindofthatsaligaudofagermanofficerikilled.hewasachicfellow,toutdememe.aboy.”