Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-08-04

In Heavens name, what do you
mean?" exclaimed Baron Ravensburg
i'm establishments.
Softly-in . whisper-there may be
long ears about us. In word, we are
in den of cut-throats. Yonder old
monastery Is occupied by band of roL-
bers In the disguise Of monks. The
landlord of this hostelry is in league
with them. They have been apprised
of your coming, and will either attack
you here or tomorrow on the desolate
road beyond. As they know that am
here from the landlord, and may warn
you, should l not be t.,s. surprised If they
"Good heavens! My poor Adelina!
I care not ii can save her. Twenty of
them, the girl said, and have but five
men; twenty against sikh"
Excuse me; your calculation Is err
roneous. There are but eighteen against
seven. You have counted two who are
killed, and you have not counted me-"
"You will aid me then. My dear
captain, this il generous"
" My dear Baron, 1t is nothing Of the
kind. merely enter into an alliance
with you for our mutual benefit; as
you have the strongest party, the ad-
vantage Is decidedly on my side. You
they might possibly plunder and sutler
to depart, bnt me they would certainly
slaughter"
Captain, place the direction of this
affair in your hands-myself and people
are at your orders. What is your best
course of action"
"Invite me into supper with you
when the landlord announces that It Is
served. l will secure him. Then your
people must secure the hOstlers and put
them in safe place. Then collect your
whole force into the house and let us
barricade 1t to the best of our ability
Eighteen will find 1t difficult to dis
lodge seven, even out of this small
framework. Having deprived the rob-
bers of all means Of obtaining informa-
ton in regard to our plans, will make
the landlord divulge theirs. You have
no idea what persuasive way have" !"
This plan was carried out to the let
ter, and a pistol held by the firm had Of
the captain at the head of the guilty
and trembling landlord, compelled him
to divulge all. The Baron and his sis
ter were to be held for ransom, and the
captain killed, he not being considered
worth a ransom. When all had retired
to rest, the landlord was to admit the
robbers into the hostelry.
The captain laid his plans at once
The front door was left unfastened, but
every other aperture was secured rs
firmly as was possible under the cir
cumstances. The Countess and Bonita
were placed i'm the upper story for secu-
rity, with the postillion as n guard
The Captain, Baron, and the others,
each armed with sword and u brace of
pistols, occupied the large apartment
on the ground floor. The landlord was
to admit the robbers, one at a time, as
had been arranged by the captain of the
band himself, and as fast as they en-
tered they were to be secured, gagged
and bound, or killed outright, as cir
cumstances warranted.
The hour for the attack drew near,
and every heart beat anxiously. The
coolest man of the party was the cap
tain. Unconsciously he had assumed
entire direction of the affair, and the
Baron and his followers Obeyed him inn
| plicitly, seeming to recognize his fitness
for the position without question.
A stealthy fOOtstep approached the
door, and the landlord, assisted by the
cold barrel of pistol, which felt disa-
greeably close to the back of his head,
admitted robber who was instantly
secured. Another followed, and anoth-
er, until they came to the eighth-a
stout, brawny fellow-who, by hercu-
lean effort, twisted his throat out of
Captain Bernard's grasp, and shouted
at the top of his lungs
ave are betrayed!"
| Two other robbers, who were close
behind, discharged their carbines in 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. 1t
proved to be the landlord. lie was
quite dead, both bullets having taken
effect i'm his body.
After brief consultation, the robbers
advanced in body against the door,
attempting to hew it open with axes
which they had procured from the sta
bles. They were met with a fusillade of
pistol shots that thinned them to one
half before they had forced the door,
and then 1t was the beseiged that sal
The survivors of the band fled.
The fight was over. Fifteen Of the
band were killed, wounded and prison.
ers. The prisoners were treated with
the summary justice of military times,
being shot at sunrise by the Baron's
followers.
The Baron and his sister renewed
their journey i'm the morning, being at
tended by Captain Bernard whom the
Baron furnished with q horse by dis
mounting one of his own followers, and
Bonita, whom the Countess had en-
gagged as maid.
The captain left the Baron at the first
stopping place. They parted with mu-
tual expressions of regret. But they
were destined to meet again. On the
bloody field of Lutzeno, when Pappen-
helm fell, and his routed cavalry fled In
dismay before the impetuOus charge OF
the Swedes, Ravensburg was made
prisoner. He was led before the victor
Of the well-fought field, Bernard Won
Weimar, who had assumed command
of the Protestant army on the fall Of
Gustayus Adolphus, and in the brave
soldier and skfllful General he recog-
nized Captain Bernard, the destroyer Of
the Black Brotherhood"