The Portland daily press., 1875-04-03
The Story ola Frenchman Hunted by the
Germans.
CHAPTER III.

to pass the Sundays with US.
1t was autumn, the season for hunting and
fishing, the time for the bird call and the
snare in the woods, of weirs and hoop nets in
the river. The old matchmaker Baure of
Phalsbourg came as formerly with his long
pole, and trout basket; Lafeche, Vignerel
and others with them, with their snares and
lime twigs the gentlemen from Saverne with
their dogs, and guns. They whistled and
halloed; they shared the foxes, and from time
to time killed hare-afterward everybody
came to break crust, and refresh himself at
he forest house. The smell of the fried fish
and omeettes penetrated even to the garden,
and they made some money at the house.
All these things you know, why should I
speak of them.
But this year, we saw great number OF
wood cutters arriving from the Palatnate and
Bavaria, great strapping fellows, the KNAPP
sack on their backs, leggins with bone buttons
ON their legs who were going to Niedervil-
Ter TO Luneve, to Toul, to work chopping
wood. They passed by in squads, their jackets
slung upon their axe handles over their shout
ders. These men drank their pint of wine
In passing. They were good livers, who filled
the room with smoke from their great porce-
lain pipes, asking questions, laughing and
amusing themselves with those who were not
obliged to work. Naturally was glad to see
them stop at our house for it made more bust
ness.
l recall at this time fact which shows
clearly the blindness of these poor souls igno-
rant of what was passing around them not
twenty leagues away, and who trusted the
government not troubling themselves to think.
l am ashamed of it, for we almost laughed at
some men of good sense who warned us to
be on our guard.
One day the house was filled with people
arriving from the city and neighborhood.
Some of these strangers where among the
number. They talked, and drank, and one of
these Bavarians with red whiskers, and great
moustache standing before the windows ex-
claimed: -"What beautiful country! What
magnificent oaks! What old rivers are those
up there-and this little forest below-this
path to the rght--this valley to the left, be
tween the rocks! Oh! never saw such
country for second harvest, for fruit trees,
and beautiful waterfalls. 1t is green and fer
tile. Is not that tower behind this little
wood? What is the name of this pretty vii
1age?'' was glad to see this man so enrap-
tured with our valley. and / answered all his
questions in detail.
Baure, Durr, Vignerel, talked among them
selves, they smoked, went into the kitchen to
see if the omelette would soon be ready, with
out disturbing the others. But near the clock
stood Captain Rondeau who had returned
few months before to the country, with his
pension, his black redingote buItoned close to
the chin, suffering all the time from wounds
received in Africa, Crimea and Italy. He
listened intenty, saying nothing, and drank
his cup of milk, because DR.. Semperlin had
forbidden him to take any thing else.
1t was perhaps an hour when the Bava-
rians, having emptied their pints, started off
again. 1 followed them outside the door in
order to point out the path to Biegelberg.
The great rough fellow laughed iovially,
showing his teeth; finally he shook hands
with me, said "Thank you," and joined his
troop.
AS they were leaving, Captain Rondeau,
leaning on his cane, was at the door, watch
ing them go out Of sight with close-shut
lips and fiery eyes; turning to me he said:
''Who are those men there. Father Fred
eric? Do you know them?'
''Well, Captain" replied, "they are some
German wood choppers. l never saw them
before, but they came from Toul to work for
some German contractors of the country"
sWhy do not these contractors take French
men?"
"Ah, these wood cutters are cheaper than
ours, they work for less wages ?"
The captain scowled, and all at once said
TO me:
"They are spies-men who come to study
the mountain"
''What do you mean! Spiesp' I replied,
astonished, ''What is there to spy here? Do
our affairs concern them?"
''They are Prussian spies; they come to
take note of our stuation.'
Then 1 said, thinking that he was making
fun of me,
"But, Captain Rondeau, there are plenty
of maps of the country. Any one can buy
them at Strasburg, Nancy-anywhere."
Looking askance at me he replied:
"Maps mapsl Do maps tell how much of
hay, straw, wheat, wine, oats, cattle, horses
and carriages they can make requisition on
in every village for an army en- route. Do
they tell you where the mayor, priest, post
master, receiver of contributions live, that
one can find them at any moment? Do they
show the stables where horses can be lodged,
and a thousand other things useful to know
in advance? Mapsl Do maps give you the
depth or course of rivers, the situation Of the
fords? Do they point out the paths they
must take, the men they must seize. because
they would stir up the population%
And as stood conlounded, surprised at
these things of which had never thought,
Father Baure exclaimed,
''Ah well, Captain who can desire to
attack us? The Germans! ha! ha! ha!
Let them come. Let them come. We will
give them warm, reception; the poor
devils. l would not wish to be in their
shoes. Ha! ha! ha! We will fix them. Not
one of them would ever leave the mountain"
All the others laughed exclaiming. "Yes,
yes, let them come. Let them try. We will
receive themn .ttt.
eyes," cried father Baure: Phalsburg with
Bitche, Lichtenberg and Schlestadt will stand
them for twenty years."
Captain Rondeau did not take the trouble
to reply, and pointing to the wood cutters
in the distance said, -...... ---....--
"Look Father Frederic, look! Do you think
they are wood cutters? Do our wood cutters
march in rank, do they step with head erect
like soldiers? Do they obey file lesder2
Are not our wood cutters, and all the wood
cutters on the mountains, round shouldered,
and have they not a shutting gait? These
men are not even mountaineers. They come
from the plain. They are spies. Yes, spies,
and viii have them arrested"
And without waiting for any reply he
threw down some pennies upon the table for
his glass OF milk, and suddenly left.
He was scarcely out of sight, when all the
roof hurst