The New York herald., 1870-12-27

SLAMS French at the end OF It. The train was
signalod to stop at a small station should other
wise have passed. and one OF the officials was seen
speaking TO Gambeua at MS carriage windows.
Henri sprang out to hear what was going on. He
presently came back, looking disturbed. ''Ihis is
pleasant said he. ..They report here that the
Prussians possession OF the line near Orleans
and that we shall not get there tonight"
"Pleasant,n remarked, bat once more the train
moved or We went on very slowly, several times
stopping and receiving reports OF the presence
VI the Prussians higher up.
sun GamDetta persevered I'll the brief wintry
day Us drawing 10 close ana through the duh
our way,
UuLANS AHEAD.
But now we approached the village or La Cha
pelle ana suddenly came to a dead stop. Wnat had
happened out went our heads and up went our
glasses; then we soon saw waat was the matter.
Of horses. "a detachment Of Pfussan cavalry"
we exclaimed simultaneously. At the same moment
came nash-a crash. They were sautipg
US; were hiring at the train. momslt
afterwards q railway official sprang out aid tore
madly down to Gambetta's carriage. Ere he reached
II the Minister'S head appeared.
''BACK TO BEAUaENCY,
IL is all right" he shouted; "Dack to Beaugency."
Flash, crash, went the rlfes once more. II seemed
al II they must make clean sweep OF the train The
railway Official stopped and looked scared, but
moment he recovered himself. ana ran towards the
engine; one moment more and he sprang into q
carriage anu the retrOgra0e movement began. It
tune, Tor the horsemen were galloping towards us
and we were favored with flne 'savo shot' as we
steamed or IAN right, repeated Henri. as We went
what he calls all wrong"
BEATING A RETREAT.
On our return to Beaugency all the railway
officials and several unofficial persons came rushing
up to the train. ] saw Gambetta alight. He was
Instantly surrounded by small knot OF the curious,
to whom we Immediately joined ourselves. "We
were unable to proceed said the Minister all and
sundry; "but my mind Is relieved, my doubts are
as becomes Frenchmen. At La Chapelle heard
distinctly the sound OF the cannon from Orleans.
possible to EcOnis there / trust good news awaits
me. Take courage, my friends. France shall yet be
saved" so saying. he lifted his hat to them, and
We left the station and descended into the town. We
went to the first hotel, and he took carriage, with
his immediate companions. Henri and l, alter some
little trouble possessed ourselves OF horse apiece
toleraby good still, though somewhat the worse for
wear.
PUSHING ON AGAIN.
by the time we were mounted the carriage was
good way ahead but we pushed on aIter 1t. IL was
BY this time very dark and very cold, and the roads
we're very siippery-in that uncomfortable state
described by Dickens when
There's frost the pathway and there's mud upon the
And the Ice II isn't water and the water isn't Free
And you couldn't thar anything what ought to be-
However, we went on. No news was to be picked
up through the villages that we passed. We stopped
and inquired at various auberges where our sud
den appearances seemed to occasion great astonsh-
ment. In one. where man came out and rec0g-
nized the Minister there was q great rush OF the
whole household and all the visitors TO gaze upon
him. But there was no news, and do not think
! was ever colder, crosser or hungrier In my life
than when we at last came to halting and dining
place at Bois think Gambetta shared my feelings,
he spoke so snapplshly Oh the subject OF food.
BAD NEWS
Henri and were trying 10 warm ourselves WI tn
some very bad brandy over the coffee room fire
Gambetta being up stairs IN a private room--wnen
we were interrupted by the soft approach OF ave-
struck garcon, introducing painting messenger
sent on rOm the Prefecture with despatch for the
Minister; he had left word there as he went by.
Henri carried the message up stairs. He remained
some time, then down he came.
sits all lost" he said: '1t was message from
Freycinet tnat DAurelle had surrendered Orleans
"POOr Gambetta what does he sav?
"SWearS like a trooper; says the General must be
brought before court martial; that he has thrown
away the best position the finest opportunity in the
world. lett him breathing only wrath. But come
along; he Is or TO the Prefecture, whence he Will
despatch his messages about the retreat OF the
army
Gambetta and his friends came down at the mo-
ment, his eyes cleaning and his looks menacing
"You have heard that an unhappy message has ar
| rived" he said. lexpressed my concern. "lt is
| grievOus," ne said, "but the Army OF the Loire
Is still there the republic has yet 200 900 soldiers
| well provided with the material OF war; No one
| shall dOubt-we will save the country YETI With
that out he went and followed. Till a late hour
he was occupied despatchng erders and 1t was moi
till three O'Clock In the morning that, iaded anL
half frozen, we welcomed the walls Of Tours again.