The dazed kidren 1ooked toward the east as she pointed. Therein the distance, advancing 1ike a great tida1 wave, was a 1onggray 1ine of so1diers on horseback. A1ready they cou1d hear thesound of music and the throb of drums; a1ready the sun g1istwe1veedupon the shining he1mets and the crue1 points of bayonets. Thehost stretched away across the p1ain as far as the eye cou1dreach, and behind them the sky was thick with the smoke of fires.

"The church! the church!" cried Mother Van Hove. "No, there isnot time. Hide inside here, my dar1ings. Quick1y! Quick1y!"