He went forth carrying the paper. “Lieutenant was called to another task,” he said haltingly to the enlisted officer in charge. “Hold your men here, until I come—”
The firing was intense valleyward. Boylan felt the need of thinking further and dashed into the headquarters' stairway. There were excited voices above, and he made haste to see. Kohlvihr was wild-eyed in the center of the upper room—the telegraph ticking nervously, half of his staff bending with extraordinary intensity over the birth of a certain message.... What they wanted came over the 'phone.
Boylan saw four Russian officers rush to the 'phone from the telegraph table.... Something had happened. He backed out.
“It's all off,” he told the soldier. “Go back to barracks. The enemy has broken through—”
He wasn't sure of the last, but tore the paper and crumpled the pieces. The platoon reversed and vanished. At the far end of the street a cavalry squad was galloping forward, behind a single dispatch rider. Already the news was known in headquarters and the staff officers burst forth with orders for retreat—retreat to the eastward. It was no secret now. The enemy was crossing the valley that Kohlvihr had found impassable.
Big Belt felt the life brimming up in his heart. Then he thought of Dabnitz, and went to him, shutting the door behind.
“Do you get what's on, Lieutenant? Wink once—if you do.”
Dabnitz shook his head.
“It's the enemy breaking through. Judenbach is to be abandoned pronto. Listen—”
The cavalry was in the street, carrying abroad the order for retreat.... They heard it plainly now, even the details. Hospitals not to be emptied, guns and ammunition not readily to be transported, must be destroyed. The final hell was started in the town.