"Well, major," said the colonel, "you see how it is; there is no use in our trying to blind each other. It is only a question of time for us; whether we shall be taken tomorrow or in a week, no one can say: but everyone can see what the result must be."
"Hm!" said the major; "When the last moment has come, we shall always have the resource of shutting ourselves up in the fort, and blowing it and ourselves to the devil."
"Unluckily, we have not even that resource."
"How so?"
"Why, we old soldiers might blow ourselves up easily and ought to do it; but we cannot condemn the women and children shut up with us to such a cruel fate."
"True; but I have it! Although we cannot blow ourselves up, I can always blow out my brains."
"You have not even that consolation, my good friend. Is it not our duty to set an example to the poor people cooped up here, and protect them while we can? Is it not our duty to be in the breach to the last?"
The major made no reply to this argument, which he inwardly acknowledged to be unanswerable.
"But," said he, after a pause, "how is it we have received no news from the capital of the state?"
"Ah, my friend! Out there they have probably other things than us to think of."