Page 297 - A TALE OF TWO CITIES

A Tale of Two Cities

covered with dust, and that the dust moves with them as
they come, tramp, tramp! But when they advance quite
near to me, I recognise the tall man, and he recognises me.
Ah, but he would be well content to precipitate himself

over the hill-side once again, as on the evening when he
and I first encountered, close to the same spot!’
He described it as if he were there, and it was evident
that he saw it vividly; perhaps he had not seen much in his
life.
‘I do not show the soldiers that I recognise the tall man;
he does not show the soldiers that he recognises me; we
do it, and we know it, with our eyes. ‘Come on!’ says the
chief of that company, pointing to the village, ‘bring him
fast to his tomb!’ and they bring him faster. I follow. His
arms are swelled because of being bound so tight, his
wooden shoes are large and clumsy, and he is lame.
Because he is lame, and consequently slow, they drive him
with their guns—like this!’
He imitated the action of a man’s being impelled
forward by the butt-ends of muskets.
‘As they descend the hill like madmen running a race,
he falls. They laugh and pick him up again. His face is
bleeding and covered with dust, but he cannot touch it;
thereupon they laugh again. They bring him into the

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