Cheered by the welcome sounds, she
raised herself from the bed to satisfy her eye her ear
had not deceived her. The windows of both bed-chambers
looked immediately on the barrack square, and commanded
a full view of the principal entrance. From that at which
she now stood, the revived but still anxious girl could
distinctly see all that was passing in front. The ramparts
were covered with soldiers, who, armed merely with their
bayonets, stood grouped in careless attitudes--some with
their wives leaning on their arms--others with their
children upraised, that they might the better observe
the enlivening sports without--some lay indolently with
their legs overhanging the works--others, assuming
pugilistic attitudes, dealt their harmless blows at each
other,--and all were blended together, men, women, and
children, with that heedlessness of thought that told
how little of distrust existed within their breasts. The
soldiers of the guard, too, exhibited the same air of
calm and unsuspecting confidence; some walking to and
fro within the square, while the greater portion either
mixed with their comrades above, or, with arms folded,
legs carelessly crossed, and pipe in mouth, leant lazily
against the gate, and gazed beyond the lowered drawbridge
on the Indian games.
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