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The Downfall by Émile Zola
page 276 of 812 (33%)
end their days in their native village rather than seek safety in
Belgium. Other bourgeois, and workingmen as well, the neatly attired
citizen alongside the man in overalls, had possessed themselves of the
weapons of dead soldiers, and were in the street defending their
firesides or firing vengefully from the windows.

"Ah!" suddenly said Weiss, "the scoundrels have got around to our
rear. I saw them sneaking along the railroad track. Hark! don't you
hear them off there to the left?"

The heavy fire of musketry that was now audible behind the park of
Montivilliers, the trees of which overhung the road, made it evident
that something of importance was occurring in that direction. Should
the enemy gain possession of the park Bazeilles would be at their
mercy, but the briskness of the firing was in itself proof that the
general commanding the 12th corps had anticipated the movement and
that the position was adequately defended.

"Look out, there, you blockhead!" exclaimed the lieutenant, violently
forcing Weiss up against the wall; "do you want to get yourself blown
to pieces?"

He could not help laughing a little at the queer figure of the big
gentleman in spectacles, but his bravery had inspired him with a very
genuine feeling of respect, so, when his practiced ear detected a
shell coming their way, he had acted the part of a friend and placed
the civilian in a safer position. The missile landed some ten paces
from where they were and exploded, covering them both with earth and
debris. The citizen kept his feet and received not so much as a
scratch, while the officer had both legs broken.
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