Summary: Chapter Fourteen
By the time Pilar, Maria, and Robert Jordan return to
camp, it has already begun to snow. Pablo predicts that a great
deal of snow will fall. Inwardly, Robert Jordan briefly feels enraged
and disgusted by his mission and the whole war, but he quickly calms
down. Pablo tells Robert Jordan that he used to take care of horses
for Finito, Pilar’s former companion, who was a bullfighter. Pilar
tells a story about a time when one bull hit Finito particularly
hard during a fight. Finito made a scene at a dinner in his honor
that was held after the bullfight. That winter, Finito died.
After Pilar finishes her story, Rafael returns from his
watch and makes a report. Fernando volunteers to take Robert Jordan
to pick up Anselmo, who is watching the road.
Summary: Chapter Fifteen
Despite the snowstorm, Anselmo still mans his post. He
watches Fascist soldiers who are headquartered inside a sawmill
across the road. He realizes that the soldiers are poor peasants
just like him. He remembers the first time he killed a man, which
was during a raid that Pablo organized.
Meanwhile, inside the sawmill, a corporal and three Fascist
soldiers talk about the snow and the superiority of the Fascists’
air power. Outside, Anselmo is cold and lonely and misses praying. Finally,
Robert Jordan and Fernando arrive and escort Anselmo back to the
camp. Robert Jordan is happy that Anselmo has stayed at his post
through the snowstorm.
Summary: Chapter Sixteen
Back in the cave, Pilar tells Robert Jordan that El Sordo
stopped by and then left to find more horses. Maria attentively
waits on Robert Jordan, who is pleased and touched that El Sordo
has brought him whiskey. Pablo, drinking in the corner, alternately
insults Robert Jordan and voices mournful thoughts. In particular,
Pablo expresses regret for the massacre of the Fascists in his hometown.
To defuse the tension, Primitivo and the other men ask
Robert Jordan questions about his job teaching Spanish and about
American social policy. Robert Jordan tries to provoke Pablo into
a fight, thinking it would be an opportune moment to kill Pablo
and not have the other men turn against him. Pablo refuses to take
the bait, however. Agustín hits Pablo several times in the face
and calls him a horse-lover, but Pablo remains calm. Finally, Pablo
goes out to check on his horses.
