But how to begin it?
What could he do?
His property all gone, he could only serve some of his richer neighbours; and for one accustomed all his life to independence, this would be hard indeed.
He looked towards his five horses, now eagerly cropping the luxuriant grass that grew under the shadow of the cliffs.

When would they be ready to trek back again?
In three or four days he might start.

Fine animals, most of them were--they would carry the wagon lightly enough.
So ran the reflections of the field-cornet.

He little thought at the moment that those horses would never draw wagon more, nor any other vehicle.

He little thought that those five noble brutes were doomed! Yet so it was.