第25部分(第2/8 頁)

re　were　many　trucks　too　and　some　carts　going　through　on　other　streets　and　converging　on　the　main　road。　When　we　were　out　past　the　tanneries　onto　the　main　road　the　troops；　the　motor　trucks；　the　horse…drawn　carts　and　the　guns　were　in　one　wide　slow…moving　column。　We　moved　slowly　but　steadily　in　the　rain；　the　radiator　cap　of　our　car　almost　against　the　tailboard　of　a　truck　that　was　loaded　high；　the　load　covered　with　wet　canvas。　Then　the　truck　stopped。　The　whole　column　was　stopped。　It　started　again　and　we　went　a　little　farther；　then　stopped。　I　got　out　and　walked　ahead；　going　between　the　trucks　and　carts　and　under　the　wet　necks　of　the　horses。　The　block　was　farther　ahead。　I　left　the　road；　crossed　the　ditch　on　a　footboard　and　walked　along　the　field　beyond　the　ditch。　I　could　see　the　stalled　column　between　the　trees　in　the　rain　as　I　went　forward　across　from　it　in　the　field。　I　went　about　a　mile。　The　column　did　not　move；　although；　on　the　other　side　beyond　the　stalled　vehicles　I　could　see　the　troops　moving。　I　went　back　to　the　cars。　This　block　might　extend　as　far　as　Udine。　Piani　was　asleep　over　the　wheel。　I　climbed　up　beside　him　and　went　to　sleep　too。　Several　hours　later　I　heard　the　truck　ahead　of　us　grinding　into　gear。　I　woke　Piani　and　we　started；　moving　a　few　yards；　then　stopping；　then　going　on　again。　It　was　still　raining。

The　column　stalled　again　in　the　night　and　did　not　start。　I　got　down　and　went　back　to　see　Aymo　and　Bonello。　Bonello　had　two　sergeants　of　engineers　on　the　seat　of　h