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t is a barbarous business。 The planes were _muchos_。 Much。 Much。 But we could have done it all； and almost without losses； with a Stokes mortar。 Two mules to carry the shells and a mule with a mortar on each side of the pack saddle。 What an army we would be then！ With the fire power of all these automatic weapons。 And another mule。 No； two mules to carry ammunition。 Leave it alone； he told himself。 It is no longer cavalry。 Leave it alone。 You're building yourself an army。 Next you will want a mountain gun。
Then he thought of Juli醤； dead on the hill； dead now； tied across a horse there in the first troop； and as he rode down into the dark pine forest； leaving the sunlight behind him on the hill； riding now in the quiet dark of the forest； he started to say a prayer for him again。
〃Hail； holy queen mother of mercy；〃 he started。 〃Our life； our sweetness and our hope。 To thee do we send up our sighs； mournings and weepings in this valley of tears〃
He went on with the prayer the horses' hooves soft on the fallen pine needles； the light coming through the tree trunks in patches as it comes through the columns of a cathedral； and as he prayed he looked ahead to see his flankers riding through the trees。
He rode out of the forest onto the yellow road that led into La Granja and the horses' hooves raised a dust that hung over them as they rode。 It powdered the dead who were tied face down across the saddles and the wounded； and those who walked beside them； were in thick dust。
It was here that Anselmo saw them ride past in their dust。
He counted the dead and the wounded and he recognized Sordo's automatic rifle。 He did not know what the poncho…wrapped bundle was which flapped against the led horse's flanks as the stirrup leathers swung but when； on his way home； he came in the dark onto the hill where Sordo had fought； he knew at once what the long poncho roll contained。 In the dark he could not tell who had been up on the hill。 But he counted those that lay there and then made off across the hills for Pablo's camp。
Walking alone in the dark； with a fear like a freezing of his heart from the feeling the holes of the bomb craters had given him； from them and from what he had found on the hill； he put all thought of the next day out of his mind。 He simply walked as fast as he could to bring the news。 And as he walked he prayed for the souls of Sordo and of all his band。 It was the first time he had prayed since the start of the movement。
〃Most kind； most sweet； most clement Virgin；〃 he prayed。
But he could not keep from thinking of the next day finally。 So he thought： I will do exactly as the _Ingl閟_ says and as he says to do it。 But let me be close to him； O Lord； and may his instructions be exact for I do not think that I could control myself under the bombardment of the planes。 Help me； O Lord； tomorrow to comport myself as a man should in his last hours。 Help me； O Lord； to understand clearly the needs of the day。 Help me； O Lord； to dominate the movement of my legs that I should not run when the bad moment comes。 Help me； O Lord； to comport myself as a man tomorrow in the day of battle。 Since I have asked this aid of thee； please grant it； knowing I would not ask it if it were not serious； and I will ask nothing more of thee again。
Walking in the dark alone he felt much better from having prayed and he was sure； now； that he would comport himself well。 Walking now down from the high country； he went back to praying for the people of Sordo and in a short time he had reached the upper post where Fernando challenged him。
〃It is I；〃 he answered； 〃Anselmo。〃
〃Good；〃 Fernando said。
〃You know of this of Sordo； old one？〃 Anselmo asked Fernando； the two of them standing at the entrance of the big rocks in the dark。
〃Why not？〃 Fernando said。 〃Pablo has told us。〃
〃He was up there？〃
〃Why not？〃 Fernando said stolidly。 〃He visited the hill as soon as the cavalry left。〃
〃He told you〃
〃He told us all；〃 Fernando said。 〃What barbarians these fascists are！ We must do away with all such barbarians in Spain。〃 He stopped； then said bitterly； 〃In them is lacking all conception of dignity。〃
Anselmo grinned in the dark。 An hour ago he could not have imagined that he would ever smile again。 What a marvel； that Fernando； he thought。
〃Yes；〃 he said to Fernando。 〃We must teach them。 We must take away their planes； their automatic weapons； their tanks； their artillery and teach them dignity。〃
〃Exactly；〃 Fernando said。 〃I am glad that you agree。〃
Anselmo left him standing there alone with his dignity and went on down to the cave。
29
Anselmo found Robert Jordan sitting at the plank table inside the cave with Pablo opposite him。 They had a bowl poured full of wine between them and each had a cup of wine on the table。 Robert Jordan had his notebook out and he was holding a pencil。 Pilar and Maria were in the back of the cave out of sight。 There was no way for Anselmo to know that the woman was keeping the girl back there to keep her from hearing the conversation and he thought that it was odd that Pilar was not at the table。
Robert Jordan looked up as Anselmo came in under the blanket that hung over the opening。 Pablo stared straight at the table。 His eyes were focused on the wine bowl but he was not seeing it。
〃I come from above；〃 Anselmo said to Robert Jordan。
〃Pablo has told us；〃 Robert Jordan said。
〃There were six dead on the hill and they had taken the heads；〃 Anselmo said。 〃I was there in the dark。〃
Robert Jordan nodded。 Pablo sat there looking at the wine bowl and saying nothing。 There was no expression on his face and his small pig…eyes were looking at the wine bowl as though he had never seen one before。
〃Sit down；〃 Robert Jordan said to Anselmo。
The old man sat down at the table on one of the hide…covered stools and Robert Jordan reached under the table and brought up the pinch…bottle of whiskey that had been the gift of Sordo。 It was about half…full。 Robert Jordan reached down the table for a cup and poured a drink of whiskey into it and shoved it along the table to Anselmo。
〃Drink that； old one；〃 he said。
Pablo looked from the wine bowl to Anselmo's face as he drank and then he looked back at the wine bowl。
As Anselmo swallowed the whiskey he felt a burning in his nose； his eyes and his mouth； and then a happy； comforting warmth in his stomach。 He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand。
Then he looked at Robert Jordan and said； 〃Can I have another？〃
〃Why not？〃 Robert Jordan said and poured another drink from the bottle and handed it this time instead of pushing it。
This time there was not the burning when he swallowed but the warm comfort doubled。 It was as good a thing for his spirit as a saline injection is for a man who has suffered a great hemorrhage。
The old man looked toward the bottle again。
〃The rest is for tomorrow；〃 Robert Jordan said。 〃What passed on the road； old one？〃
〃There was much movement；〃 Anselmo said。 〃I have it all noted down as you showed me。 I have one watching for me and noting now。 Later I will go for her report。〃
〃Did you see anti…tank guns？ Those on rubber tires with the long barrels？〃
〃Yes；〃 Anselmo said。 〃There were four camions whi