The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-03-25

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situation by the fact that | was obliged
to attack the chest which contained the
intended present for the Prussian min
lister, and TO purloin one of the pleas
ants. | ordered Anthony to cook it /;
it was excellent, and so was my last
bottle of Rhenish. My appetite being
satisfied | mounted my post-chaise
again, and proceeded ON my journey.
Our wheels ploughed through the
waves of sand as deeply as a three
decker through the pillows of the sea. :"
Our banker had made the tour
across the channel in the Calais packet
and he loved TO speak of the sea.
MY patience at length became cX-
hausted, and being weary of looking at
the sandy surface, fell asleep. Short
Nv aftorward terrible shock awakened
me- ! endeavored to look round, but
could not ! struggled TO- open nay
mouth it filed with sand My feet
were fast in the carriage / was near
being killed In short, the axletree of
the chaise and one Of the wheels were
broken Anthony had Jared somewhat
better than his master. and he relieved
me from my disagreeable situation
Now sir You may believe me. this was
no Joke There ! WIS. fifteen miles
from Berlin, and two from the next VIII
lage with q portfolio containing sew
eral hundred thousand dollars in pa
pers, and no conveyance Presently !
discovered q carriage travelling the
same road approached Two gen
tlemen occupied the seats a footman
was behind Ny resolution was soon
taken ] ordered Anthony to get my
post-chaise repaired, and to follow me
to the Brandenburg hotel as soon as
possible Thus resolved ] stepped
toward the carriage. which had now
come up to us.
"Gcntlemen,' said !, lifting my hat
ciyillv "will You be SO good as t0 af-
ford traveller whose chaise Won see is
broken a seat in your carriage
Certainly. said the Youngest
please to step in.
| did SO. The first minutes were
passed in surveying the strangers, with
whom my happy. or unhappy steps
knew not which. had brought me in
contact ] was in military country,
and ! was soon convinced that my new
companions were military men.
The complaisanco of these strangers
soon restored me to my former good
humor, and thinking it my duty to
meet their politencss by similar ad-
yances, ! began to enter INTO something
like conversation with them; they,
however, were not the most talkative
persons in the world | spoke OF the
war which was raging between France
and Austria, but ! received only nod.
| went over the prospects OF Prussia
no answer at all; the old gentleman
was as dry as a chip, the Young one es
shy as lark ! hate sullcnness es-
pccially in young men, and thinking
that my subjects were perhaps dis0-
greeable, ! changed them to the state
of the country | was not very lavish
Of my praise, and ccnsured the govern
ment for not repairing the roads
Both gentlemen We're extremely atten-
tive, but still more reserved. i had
now tried every means to bring them
into conversation. At last | spoke Of
my fare, and of the miserable dinners
provided for travellers They smiled
"What do you think, sir. said l. adj
dressing the young man, Il have dined
upon?' A pheasant knew he never
would guess.
Il do not know, sir.
"Well, guess then, said l.
The young man looked significantly
and entering into my humor, returned
u do not know, indeed; perhaps d
shoulder of mutton %
My hand fell unyoluntarily ON his
knee.
Higher, said l.
well, then You have dined upon Q
goose y
Higher" replied l, placing my hano
a second time on his knee.
Then it was a chicken, said he
Higher replied l, accompanying
my word with third slap.
you have not, surely, dined ON q
turkey in SO poor country?'
Higher, sir," returned |, striking
him for the fourth time on his knee.
"Well, then, it must have been {
, pheasant.
you have hit it, sir, a pheasant
brought from Frankfort; and if yoy
will do me the honor of being my
, guest at the Bradenburg hotel, YOU
shall dine off pheasants, too"
Neither promised to come, but boil
: smiled.
| After this dialogue we rode seyera
miles without speaking a single word
} when the young man, III quite friend
: ly tone, said:
"Now, sir, to ask question, whom
[ do you think you ride with?"
Z This question was put in the usua
+ brisk tone of Prussian officer.
looked at the stranger moment; ht
was about my age, but much taller
/ His dress was plain surtout, and his
2 head was covered with wooden cap
, strongly set in leather, with a narrow
| gold brim. He had good deal o
military cast.
"Well, " said i, 81 think l have tn,
pleasure of being in company with d
military gentleman "A Captain ? added
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