Maryland free press., 1867-03-28
s t. b II ~ N O ,
on THE ~ ...r t..,,....
Rout OF the Black Brotherhood.

ed Germany, one fine summer afternoon n foe
traveller came to the little hostelrie of the Tray
eler's Rest which stood by the roadside on I'll
rivers bank. His garb proclaimed him a so
dier. High black boots were drawn half way u
his thighs, in which loose pair ofbreeches los
themselves, and a rusty iircast plate covered hi
buff leathern jefkn. A broad lcafed low crown
ed hat, from which a single black feather depcu
ded was pulled low upon his forehead He wa
armed with sword and pistols. 'i....# .D
There was something in his martial bearing
and firm tread that seemed 10 denote he officer
So at least thought the little sunny haired mai,
of the hostelery who came forth to serve him. fo
she said ut once: I}-l .7 H-sa. lH,. fa So.
''What can I serve you WITH noble captain?'
IA fagon of Rhehis and of your best vim
tage, mind, and a bit of something to eat, in tb
first place." answered the soldier good natured
ly chucking the girl under the chin, like one &C
custom"d to such familiarity, 'and then a bee
for the night" 'r..r.' .r
''Thc first can supply you with, but thcaec
| ond, ! am sorry to say, | cannot.P
1t was a mans voice that spoke. They hat
been joined nv the landlord of the hoselery-i
saost parsy little maa with fat face and red
nose. .'.g.. ... .. -I.. +
"Wkarcfnr, no'?" asked the soldier carelcssl,
| throwing himself on the wooden bench under tn,
| tree that shaded tbe hos.eery with its branch
es, whilst the girl went into the house to pro.
cure the refreshmcn is he had besroken.
'Because every room is engaged, and I iinvt
not spare bed left. The young Baron Ravens
burg his sister and their attendants
will arrive this evening. Their courier was hert
to hcSpeak the rooms"
That's unfortunate. Bat am soldier as
YOU see-so give me n bundle Of straw in one o.
the out houses. aud that will content mes
'.lmnossih|c!" cried the host with an ancrity
which rather surprised the old soldier; ''even as
1t is shall he evompnllcd to maze some of thr
Barons servants sleep in the open air My house
Is too small, as you perceive, and the Btron's re-
,inue Is large. Ten miles further on there is m
excellent inn. Yon are used to marching ~
SAID the host. with an attempt mt tacetous-
ness. 'snd the distance will he nothing to you.'
."Excnsc me- answered the soldier tapping
the heels oFhi1 boot with the henvy steel scali-
hard, and all the while suhiectng his h ,st to a
scrutiny of which he wes uncopciouS, "I nm moi
foot soldier; and in my long marches | have
been accustomed 10 use f,ur legs instead of two.
did not come all the way on foot --.-.
"Wheres your horse?i asked the landlord
quickly. and with some anxiety the soldier
thought. .. ... ...r t.r.
"Some two miles from here" replied the sol,
dier. -... ',.. t. .
"Some two miles from hsrc;' echoed the Ian l.
l1rd; ''there is no house there. Why did You
leaYr him" .-s %. ..- -..'
'Sirirlv because he could carry me no far
him. He was dead" ,.u~ .as ~ ..~'.
"DcadF' . ....r ... ......H
"les. 1t bappenN1 very strangely. These are
troublesome tncs | know, hut thought the
war had not invaded this quiet provinces, at least
! WIS told SO. and therefore rol le a on felriess
of danger. When came to that little glen with
rocks ah1 woods crestng it upon either side, |
thought natural thought for soldcr--tlat
ii WAS capital place for Aa,amhusc.,le, ana so
it proved; f'r hal scarcely entered ii, when
two carhines We're frei from the thickst. Nv
horse neighrd with pain, reared up, ani then
iell to the earth, carrying na with him. | k ew
he rs b.lly hIrt 70" | hll lh1"sas shot undal
me before: 50 quickly sul'c}ied NV pistols from
my holsters. and went down quietly with lr;m.
Fortunately he ar stone dead and did not kick
lay nto'innlcss on his body and wiited for fur
ther developments, Two men with carttneS in
their hands emerged from the thicket aad ranh
rapidly toward me. When they were within
ten feet of me arose and called unpn them TO
surrender, rs was anxious 10 learn the "al,sc of
this unprovokcd attack; there being nothing in
my aprcarGu &C 10 suggest tie idea Of booty -
fut Tire rsscals, vino evidently Thought nc deal
wgrcs terrified thai they beat lIdSy retreat to-
wards the woods 50 was olli@eh to send 81
couple Of bullets after them: an bcil m nijC
ierent good shot they did stop, aud until scmc
good Christian gives them burial, ilicy are like
y to stop there for some time"
"iou shot both Of thrni!'' stammcred the land
lord, and his teeth chartered, and he grew very
pale, all but the tin Of his nose, which, from
contrast with the rest OF lis face, looked redlcr
than ever.
'What would you have me do?' asked tho
soldier, in his usual careless tone. !'They migst
have fired with better success AT some poor trav
clrr who might nat have got of so easily ~ J
did"
"Wlmt could have possesscd them to Are upon
you2i' exclaimed tho laudlord anil it almost ap-
peared that o was asking him self the question Is
much ~ he dill the soldier.
''Prccisclv the question asked myself" re
turned the solder, 'anl sine, yo1 have m"n-
tiorei The expected arrival of the yornr Parsn
Of R1vcrsburg think have n cue to the whole
affair. Sonc outlaws haying heard of the Blr-
ons journey, have formed apan TO Yaylav him
These two mon were sent forward as scouts to
apprisc the others ofhc Baron: approach. Sec
Seeing only solitary hOrsemcn approach,
they concluded to Tlunder little on their
own account. As was not M olestel further on
the rond hither the rendezvous ofthe band must
lie hayonA here consequently the Baron will
reach this house in SAFETY. Now, If yon cannot
accommodate me with he'd, shall take rp nv
quarters TO night rnon this bench. for feel II is
my duty TO warn this Young Baron of the dan
ger which threatens him, for know something
Cf this fimilv''
rious guest There was no mistlking the man.
Cournt" and determination were highly stamped
upon his finely cut features.
"You are an officcr'" he said nqulringly.
tYrs"
q. "Captain2"
"ExHctly.n .......,r
"Dthsndcd?'' ,r
The quiet smile that accompanied this answer
hcwiIderfd the landlord. In fact, Tho Captain
wns an enigma that the wor hy host of the Trav-
cler's Rest found it impossible to solve.
The appearance of the maid Of the hosteiry
with II flask of wine and the refreshments the
Captain had ordered, interrupted tine conver sa-
tion.
.. The host whispered to the girl and then has
tened away. ... SER .... ef I'll ...
tWhat did he say to yoa2' asked the Cap
tain abruptly, fixing his keen eyes upon the girls
'To wait ppon vou while he went up to The
monastery, replied the girl, nnhesiatingIy.
; a "The, monastery r,inined the Cnpt,in,. les-
urely inspecting the contents ofa flask Of Rhc-
ni.h, which seemed TO be much 10 his satisflr-
,inn "That OH rnin upon The hill yondtr? It
is then occrpi.d?' q "."'
'Oh. yes, Ahont year ago party Of wan
dering monks, whose monastery had been de-
stroyed by tic soldiers Of the league, occupied
II q. .rs Ti,,r