Tristram answered them truthfully, which had the effect of raising disbelief in M.de Soisson's breast.

After ten minutes this disbelief grew to such an extent that the peppery officer turned to the sergeant and ordered Tristram to be taken off to the barn where the deserters were kept under guard.
This barn lay a mile to the rear, across half a dozen meadows, over which Tristram was hurried at a quick trot, with the point of a bayonet at his back to discountenance delay.

On arriving at the building he was held while the sergeant unlocked the door.

Then he was kicked into inner darkness.

He stumbled over the legs of a man who cursed him volubly, and dropped on to a heap of straw.
Within ten minutes he was asleep, utterly worn out both in body and mind.
Three hours passed, and then the door of the barn was flung open and another sergeant appeared with a squad of soldiers at his back.
He strode through the barn, kicking the sleepers, among whom was our hero.