The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-05-30

four bayonets on each side Of him. lie
was about forty years old, withgray hair,
wearing dark pantaloons and a white
blouse. He had been captured on the
thirtieth not far from Pefniere, and in
all probability was one Of our spies.
Yesl yesll aspyl aspyll shoot himl
shoot himl cried out the Prussians in a
voice Of rage and shaking their fists al
him. The unfortunate man turned pale
and attempted to defend himself, saying.
II am only poor peasant, was going
for some wine; why was arrested, |
know not" lie could say no more, and
what he did say was spoken with an ali
20 sincere and tone so simple and nat
ural, that he must have told the truth,
but these brutes would not believe any
thing.
Hof and all the rest were driven
along bhrough mud and snow, like flock
Of sheep, and when they passed through
a village, while at the doors of the house,
women and children silent with griei
look nj them passing by, they hung down
their heads so as not to be seen, and SHED
tears Of rage and humiliation.
Thus they marched on foot from Chel
les to Mitny, and from Mitny to Dam
martin. Here they halted at the church
The unfortunate men had been march
ing two days, but the well-fed guard
seemed almost to doubt if their prison
ers could be hungry. As yet they haC
received bread but once, and Of that ,
meagre allowance.
AT last permission was granted th,
people Of Dammariu TO come and see thu
prisoners, and Immediately its entir,
population came rushing in, some bring
ing soup, some meat, and some bottle
of wine. The Mayor himself came ant
superiatendcd the distribution Of food
Our Officers took him TO one side an,
asked him if he could not, in some way
or other, contrive the escape Of two mel
in whom they were all deeply interested
These two men we're Hoff and the Lieu
tenant. The Mayor, a true patriot
would not have asked for more pleas
ant service, but he did not see any prac
teal way Of bringing it about.
In the meanwhile our soldiers wer,
eating away on the food brought by tn
people, who were scattered about througI
the church The Prussians, somehow
seemed just then to have relaxed littl'
of their usual vigilance. What use wa
il to attempt an escape out Of this BAR
and pillaged building, every entrance Il
which was carefully guardedH
The spy himself had been restored t,
comparative liberty. Hof had just per
ceived it. lie kept himself near tn
door, with head bent forward, nostril
dilated, his whole body agitated by fe
verish trembling, looking out. At tina
moment there passed by little old wo
man, bearing basket and a soup tureen
Hoff snatched the latter from her, put i
into the hands Of the unfortunate spy
and then made signs for him TO go on
of the door. Come, save yourself
said he in a whisper To- the man. Tn
spy understood it. They began strug
gle, pulling each other this way and that
as if they were contending for the re
mains Of the soup, and thus strugglin,
they gradually approached the door
The sentinel becoming inpatient AM
vexed at the disturbance, and thinking
the spy one of the inhabitants of tn
town, caught him by the arm and pushe'
him out Of doors. All what joy it mus
have caused in the heart of the poor fel
low, and how eagerly he must have drunl
in the air of freedom He had sufficien
presence Of mind to make no demonstra
.tion, and Hoff saw him disappear aroun'
a bend of the street, walking along witt
a. calm a step and as careless an air, a
If he had not just escaped from death.
The next morning, when the Prus
SLAMS at their setting out inspected th
prisoners, first, the officers, then the pri
yates, drawn up in three ranks, the,
found the number deficient. They coun
ted and recounted, and still one was mis-
sing.
Beginning at scissors, the remainde
OF the journey was made by railroad
but it was hardly more rapid or NOR
pleasant than the marches of the pre-
vious days. The train crept along SLOW
through fear Of fraRes-tieurs, who had Al
ready torn up the track several times
aud our poor soldiers crowded togethe
in the ears like cattle, bruised by contiu
ued jolting, and chilled by cold, were a
most ready to regret that they had no
continued their journey on foot. At dii
ferent points along the road, long train
of prisoners we're added 10 our convoy
These were part of the army of the LC
ire. All were marched TO Camp Grin
pent, in the vicinity of Cologne, whicI
they entered the eighth Of December