The mountain Democrat., 1865-09-09

"S'tOW UoS@pSS OSPbaih " tuV Way
you are in the Imperial servicei'
4 am not; to be frank with you, my
sword is at present at liberty
Then take service with me; there il
something in your appearance Uhirh be
speaks the gentleman and the sOldieS, anC
| like you. There is Majority vacant ir
my regiment which can promise you.
On my word, Baron returned th'
Captain, smiling good bumoredly, you dc
me much honor on so brief acquaintance
but we are likely to serve together 10 4
sharp campaign, which is nearer than you
imagine. Whether you or I shall take
direction Of the affair depeuds on yourself
after you have heard what l have to tell
you
In heavens name what do you mean?
exclaimed Baron Ravensburg in astonish.
ment.
'SoftIy-in = whisper-there may be
long ears about US. In word, we are in
den of cut-throats. Yondsr old monas.
terry is occupied by band Of robbers in
the disguise Of monks. The landlord oil
the hOstelry is in league with them; they
have been apPtised Of your coming, and
will either attack you here, or to morrow
upon the desolate road beyond. As they
know that am here from the landlord,
and may warn you, I should not be sur
prised if they assailed us here to night
Great Heavens my poor Adal;aI !
care not if ! can save her. Twenty Of
them; the girl said d-Ahj have but Eve
men-twenty against SIKH
Excuse me your calculation is erro
neons. There are but eighteen against
seven. You have counted two who are
killed, and you have not counted me-
You will aid me, tbenf My dear cap.
tain, this is generous
My dear Baron, it is nothing Of the
kind. | merely enter into an alliance
with you for mutual benefit as you have
the strongest party, the advantage is de
cidedly upon my side You they might
possibly plunder and suffer to depart, bul
me then would certainly kill in revengs
for their comrades slaughter
Captain, place the direction Of this
affair in your hand-myself and people
arc ~ yOuT OtucTSs w uut 10 yOuT USSl
course Of action ?
Invite me to supper with you when
the landlord announces that it is served
| will secure him. Then your people
must secure the bostlers and put them in
q safe place. Then collect your whole
force into the house and let US barricsdt
it to the best Of our ability. Fighter
men will find it difficult to dislodge seven
even out of this small wooden framework
Having deprived the robbers Of all means
Of obtaining information in regard to ouI
plans, | will make the landlord divulgt
theirs. You have no idea what persua
sive way have
This plan was carried out to the letter
and pistol held by the firm hand of tn
Captain at the head of the guilty anC
trembling landlord, compelled him to di
vulge all. The Baron and his sister wer,
to be held for ransom, and the Captain
killed, he not being considered worth q
ransom. When all had retired to rest, the
landlord was to admit the robbers into
the hostelry.
The Captain laid his plans al once
The front door was left unfastened, but
every other available aperture was secur-
ed as firmly as was possible under the
circumstances. The Countess and Boni.
ia were placed in the upper story for Sc
curity, with the postillon as a guard -
The Captain, Baron, and the others, each
armed with asword and brace of pistols,
occupied the large apartment on the
ground floor. The landlord was to admit
the robbers one at time, as had been
arranged by the captain Of the band him
self, and as fast as they entered they
were to be secured, gagged and bound, or
killed outright, as circumstances war
ranted.
The hour for the attack drew near, and
every heart beat anxiouSIy. The coolest
man Of the party was the Captain. Ua-
consciously, he had assumed entire direc,
ton Of the affair, and the young Baron
and his followers obeved him implicitly;
seeming to recognize his fitness for the
position without question.
A Stealthy footStep approached the door
and the landlord, assisted by the old pis
tol barrel, which felt diSagreeably close to
the back of his head, admitted tobber,
who was instantly secured. Another fol.
lowed, and another, until it came to the
eighth-a stout. brawnv fellow-who, by
a herculean effort, twisted his throat out
Of Captain Bernard's grasp, and shouted
at the top Of his lungs, 1--WE are betrayed "
Two other robbers who were close be-
hind discharged their carbineS at the door
and instantly retreated. A yell Of pain
answered the discharge, and one man fell
in the hostelry. The door was instantly
shut and barricaded. Lights were brought
forward, and the man who had fallen was
raised II proved to be the landlord. He
was quite dead, both bullets having taken
effect in his body.
After a brief consultation the robbers
advanced in body against the door, at
tempting to hew it open with axes which
they had secured from the stables. They
were met with a fuSilade Of pistol shots
that thinned them one-half before they
had forced the door, and then it was the
besieged that sailed forth, and not they
that entered. The survivors OF the band
flrd.
tsThe fight was over. Fifteen of the band
we're killed. wounded, and prisoners. -
The prisoners were treated with the sum
mary justice of military times, being shot
at sunrise by the Baron's followers.
The Baron and his sister renewed their
journey in the morning, being attended
by Captain Bernard, whom the Baron
furnished with horse by dsmounting
one of his own followers, and Bonita,
whom the Countess had engaged as a
maid.
The Captain left the Baron at the first
stopping place. They parted with mutu,
al expressions of regret. But they were
destined to meet again. On the bloody
field Of Lutzeno, when PapPenheim fell
and his routed cavalry fed in dismAy be-
fore the imnetuouS charge of the SwedeS.