For a wonder it had not been burned or broken down, although everything had been cleaned out of it by raiders.

The door swung idly on its hinges.
The two Russians were forced to enter the hut.

They were bound with ropes, of which there happened to be some hanging from a nail, the door was closed, huge sticks from a surrounding fence were driven into the ground against it, so that it could not be opened from the inside, and the men were left to their own devices.
As neither Frenchman spoke Russian, and as the Russians understood neither French nor Prussian, conversation was impossible.

Everything had to be done by signs.
"I wouldn't give much for their chance, shut up in that house in this wood," said the grenadier, as the two walked away.
"Nor I," answered Marteau.

"But at least we haven't killed them." The two Frenchmen now presented a very different appearance.