Ay, it was impossible to move! The dragoons, revolver in hand, had to resort to threats in order to rouse them! Only the certainty that the pursuer was near and might make them prisoners gave them a momentary vigor.

So they were forcing themselves up by superhuman effort, staggering, dragging their legs, and supporting themselves on their guns as though they were canes.
Many of these were young men who had aged in an hour and changed into confirmed invalids.

Poor fellows! They would not go very far! Their intention was to follow on, to join the column, but on entering the village they looked at the houses with supplicating eyes, desiring to enter them, feeling such a craving for immediate relief that they forgot even the nearness of the enemy.
Villeblanche was now more military than before the arrival of the troops.

The night before a great part of the inhabitants had fled, having become infected with the same fear that was driving on the crowds following the army.

The mayor and the priest remained.