Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-08-12
LANCASTER, WISCONSIN, SATURDAY, AUGUST l9, 1S4S

powers of nature. He contrived though
with difficulty, to crawl down the stairs,
open the kitchen door and find his way TO
the trough in the yard, at which the horses
were watered. OF this unpalatable bever-
age he drank heartily and found himself re-
freshed.-when in tottering back, he fell UNI
awares into a large cistern. Now, whether
the shock Of the immersion, or the previous
draughts of cold water, wrought critical
change in his complaint, or that the disease
itself had taken favorable turn, the histo-
rian saith not, hut on regainng his bed, he
broke out into salutary perspiration, slept
soundly, and woke the next morning, still
somewhat weak, it is true, but prodigiously
hungry, and with sufficient strength to re-
sumo his clothes and armor (Which were by
his bed .idc), grid on his sword, and dress
ed in all save his boots, descended into ,ac
kitchen. The hostess was already astir,
and ghost from the grave would not have
started her so much as the sight of her liv-
ing guest. Nay, one may venture to assert,
that if she could have exchanged the guest
for ghost, she would have deemed herself
lucky woman.
Though greatly indignant at the inhu-
manity with which he had been deserted
the soldier had no suspicion that the active
crime of robbery would be added to the
passive infamy of abandonment; and being
naturally of proud temper, he dsdained
to enter into long and idle reproaches.-
Therefore scarcely looking at the hostess,
but seating himself at the table, he said
briefly
"Give me a manchet and flask; bring
me my boots; aud tell me what there is TO
nav Colds tporNv ono cnnfnrt ofiar stnr
ing is to think the reckoning will be
the lighterP
The hostess said not word, hut she ran
to her husband, who was still in his room,
Illuminating certain plans which the contents
of the soldiers boots would enable him to
adopt Mine host swore sundry great oaths
when he heard that his guest was waiting
for breakfast i'm the kitchen. What was TO
he done! The boots at all evnts, must he re-
turned. Between the two they cobbled up
the rent they had made in the inner leath-
er of the right boot, sponged off the dust
from both, and sent them down to the sol
der by the maid, with orders to accompany
them by the comestibles requested. BY this
time the kitchen had become pretty full of
laborers and oilers in the habit of taking
their morning draught nj the inn; and all
turned with curiosity IA the manchet, flask,
and an immense pair ofboots were placed on
the table before the grim, pale soldier. Kas-
par Karnerach (for such was his nancy was
too much gnawed by his hunger TO examine
his boots until he fn;hsed the flask and the
manchet; but then, lifting the right boot, it,
astonishing lightness struck hIm with terror
and suspicion. He passed his hand into the
Interior, and the unsatisfactory touch left
no doubt that his strange valse had been
rifled. Kaspar Karnerach was not n pa
tient man. But even the most patient sci
dom submit TO be robbed without muir
muir "Ab, SOW that would devour thine
own farrow--ab, miserable woman, thief
and traitress, what hast thou done with the
charge | consigned to thee! My gold
my gold crowns! Where art thou, trail
tress!"
While bursting forth into such like, and
much worse, volIeys of vituperatoD, the
soldier strobe to and fro like one distracted;
and finding that no hostess came TO his call,
he disappeared from the sight of the un-
worthy bankeress he had so ucklessly selec-
ted.
! In n few minutes more, loud cries, yells,
and oaihs, were heard on the stairs above,
and presently Kasper re-appeared, foamng
/ VIII TdSty ahc hosts Nboih iS
shed before him with the violated boot,
while with the left hand he dragged the host
ess by the arm, careless of the kicks and
pinches with which she returned his atten-
tons.
The customers rose, and gathered some
what menacingly round the soldier, the host
all the time roaring for help. But Kaspar,
whose blood was up, dashing the host on the
ground, set his foot on his chest, and then,
releasing the hostess, drew his sword, and
one circle in the air cleared the space before
him. He then, not without violent inter
ruption from the hostess, told his tale and
re-deinanded his treasure, but the audience
he appealed to was not favorable. The
host was a man Of note in the town, his
brother was chief ma gistrate; most of those
present were in his debt. The soldier was
stranger and unsupported; his tale seemed
improbable--a boot WAS mn odd place to de-
post money. Besides, he had been very
III; he was probably still out Of his mind
In short whether or not, his tale was disbe-
lieyed; the audience saw sufficient excuse
to disbelieve it. Meanwhile, at whisper
from the hostess, one of the guests had dis
appeared AT the commencement OF the har-
angue. Before he had finished his talk
there was a general clanor Of iDcredulity
and Indignation, in the midst Of whirh, by
a violent effort, the host wrenched himself
from hi- unpleasng position, gained his legs
ran to the Fireplace, seized on the spit; and,
encouraged by the sympathy he met with.
and the numbers on his side, he ran a-tiIt Mt
his acuser, calling him all the liars and vag-
abonds he could lay his tongue 10. The
soldier parried the SPIT, and with back
han beh strike cuf off rho hazl1z
Amidst the hubbub that ensUed, in march
cd the hosts brother the magistrate, with a
srore Of balberdiers in his suite. They found
poor Kaspar fourishing his sword, the host
bleeding and believing, and the guests
screaming and yelling ana shaking their fists.
Kaspar was soon disarined and handcufTed,
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