The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-03
NUMBER 4.
THE BLOCKADE: /:
AN EPISODE or THE
END OF THE EMPIRE.
(Ccntinued.)

(Continued.)
In front of Genodet's stables, where the old
barns Of the Rendsrmery began, lane turned
to the left toward the hospital This was foil
of manure and heaps of dirt-a drain in fact.
Well, this 70 cal of q Winter turned into II,
lantern, We had to follow him. We went
cropping under the roofs of the sheds, along the
orszy old walls. 1t seemed rs IL We should
never get out of this gutter but ct last We
came out near the hospital, in the midst of the
grest piles of manure, which were hesped
against tho grating of the sewer.
1t seemed q little lighter, and we saw tho
roof of the French gate, and tho line of fortiA-
catops black against the sky; aud almost I'M
mediately 1 perceived tho figure of man
gliding among the trees ae the top OF ire , ram I'M
hands almost touched the ground. They did
not FIRE on this side the distant flashes passed
over the roofs. and did not Tighten the streets
below.
caught Winters arm, and pointed out to
him this man he instantly hid his lantern
under his blouse. The soldier, whose back was
parently listening. This lasted for two or
three minutes then he passed over the ram
part at the corner of the bastion; and we heard
something scrape the wall OF the rampant.
Winter i'm med ately began to run, crying out
"a deserter! To the posterpW
We had heard before this Of deserterS slip
ping down into the trenches by means Of their
bsyonets. We ell ran. The sentry called out,
" Who goes thereP
"The citizen patrol" replied Winter.
He advanced, gave the order, and VIC went
down tho postern steps like wild beasts.
Below at the foot of the large bastiors built
on the rock, nothing but snow, large
black stones, and bughss covered with frost.
The dc serter needed only to keep still under
tue bushes our lantern, which shone only fox
fifteen or twenty feet, might have wandered
about till morning without discovering him
and We should have ourselves have supposed
that no had escaped. But unfortunately for
him, fear urged him on, and we saw him in the
distance running to the stairs which lead up
to the covered wass He went like the wind.
not stop, and We all ran together on his track,
calling out, " Halt! Haiti"
Winter had given me the lantern 60 go to
run faster followed ct . distance, thinking
to myself: Moses. If this man is taken, thou
wilt be the cause of his death" WANTED TO
put oct the lantern, but If Winter had seon
me he would have been capable of knocking
me down with the butt-end of his musket.
He had for long time bsen hoping for tho
cross, and was all the time expecting 1t and
the pension with it.
The deserter ran, ss said, to the stairs.
Suddenly he perceived that the ladder, which
takes the place of the eight lower steps. was
came nesrer-he heard us and began to H1n
| faster, to the right toward the half moon. The
poor devil rolled over the snow-bankg. Win
tor aimed at him, and called out Haiti suE-
| render!"
But lie got up and began to run again:
Behind the out-workS, under the draw
BRIDGE we thought We neu loeC MIN Inc oOt-
poraf called to me, "CoDe along! thousand
| thundersw and at that moment We saw bim
| leaning against the wall, as pale 81 death.
Winter took b i'm by the collar and said: II
| have got You y
| Then he tore an epanIette from his shoulder:
"You are not worthy to wear that !" said he |;
"come alouR.'
| He dragged him cut of his corner, and held
the lantern before his face We saw hand
some boy of eighteen or nineteen, tall end
slender, with small, light moustsches, and blue
eyes.
Seeing him there SO pale, with Winters fst
| at hi, throat, thought of the poor bOy'g
| father and mother my heart smote me, and
could not help saying Come, Winter, he
| ia a child, q mere child He will not do it
| But Winter, who thought that now surely
| his cross was won, turned upon me furiou0ly ::
II tell thee what Jew, stop, or will run my
bAyonet through thy body"
wretch !" thouRht l, what will not man
do to make sure Of his glsss Of wine for the
| rest of his dRysT
had o sort of horror Of that man; there are
wild beasts in the human race
CheVreux, Somme, and Dubourg did not
| speak.
| with his hand on the deserter's collar.
| "If he stops," said be, ''strike him on the
| back with your musketsi AN, sCoundrei, you
desert in the faoe of the enemy Your case is
| turf of the halG.moon Will you come on
| Strike him with the butt-end, you cowardsF
! What pain cd me most was TO hear the poor
fellows heavy Sighs he brsathed go herd,
| from his fright ct being taken and knowing
| that he would be hot, that we could hear him
| fifteen paces of the sWeat ran down my fore
| head. Aud now and then be turned TO me and
gave me such o look ~ Shall never forget, %
| II to say: "SRve mew
J If had been alone with DubOurg and Chew