WINTER TOOK HIM BY THE COLLAR, AND SAID: "I HAVE YOU NOW!"
Then he tore an epaulette from his shoulder: "You are not worthy to wear that!" said he; "come along!"
He dragged him out of his corner, and held the lantern before his face. We saw a handsome boy of eighteen or nineteen, tall and slender, with small, light mustaches, and blue eyes.
Seeing him there so pale, with Winter's fist at his throat, I thought of the poor boy's father and mother; my heart smote me, and I could not help Baying: "Come, Winter, he is a child, a mere child! He will not do it again!"
But Winter, who thought that now surely his cross was won, turned upon me furiously:
"I tell thee what, Jew, stop, or I will run my bayonet through thy body!"
"Wretch!" thought I, "what will not a man do to make sure of his glass of wine for the rest of his days?"
I had a sort of horror of that man; there are wild beasts in the human race!
Chevreux, Somme, and Dubourg did not speak.
Winter began to walk toward the postern, with his hand on the deserter's collar.