Little Falls transcript., 1880-01-30

Iil0 uoAA nAiA COAN, anu L w uOl hUCW a.
what moment we may break in on thei1
counter-mines, or be blown higher than
! this column here" -, ~..s.s''s~
mining? Ahl Well, you must be
careful; you cannot dig your way out
you Know w.. ~, .,,- as-,
"Perhaps I SHALL" said Louis, with a
cary, melancholy half smile; and the
stern doctor shook his head douhtfully
as the officer of engineers turned on his
heel and strobe away toward those out,
ward lines, over which the shadow from
the city had already crept and settled
Mine and countermine.
Each side felt sure that the other was
working at that; but tho, French did
more than the Germans, in very fear Of
what might be, and Louis DeRosat had
become very enthusiast in his subter
ranean duties.
It was night when Louis DcRcset re.
turned to the nine; but, as he stood On
the rampant of the fort for moment, il
seemed to him that he could see in spite
of the darkness, away over into that out
er world beyond the German lines and
the suffocating siege.
"Henrl,' he muttered; "nobody knows
what became Of him. wonder if he col
through. with his hussars. They sem
out three balloons yesterday.
"If they can fly over, why should not
we dig under? I must go down now
"Spielburg is fool; man must take
a little brandy and absinthe before 60
ing down to dig in hole like that.
| The ~, on oro firo1 o,l A.,
rationsr were short to,da y. will take ;
spade myself"
In few moments Louis found him
self in long, narrow passage that was
being bored through the earth in the di
rection cf the nearest German works
Not human being did he see, though
the scanty lights were burning blue anc
dim in the foul air.
There lay the tools, however, for ht
had made his way to the further termi
nus.
II at least will work." SAID he to him
self; am ahead Of time, and they viii
soon be here"
AS he tore down the soft earth anC
loose gravel with pick or spade, he cast
it hurriedly behind him, for the men tt
take it away in their barrows; but 1t was
long before they arrived, and he had sc
piled it up as almost to wall himself in
Then he heard voices, and knew by the
ring Of the tools that the men we're there
and had begun their work, but he never
paused.
"If we could only make such headway
| as this all the time, we would dig to the
Rhine in week." he said aloud.
And he piled his spade with more fran
tic energy than ever.
The men, too, as If animated by tht
example of their officer, toiled as Louis
had never known them to toll before.
But for all that they were compelled
| to send for another and another squad O.
helpers, to keep pace with the avalanche
OF matter that kept pouring back int
the mine by the wonderful work of thc1
leader.
"Mo1e men!' shouted Louis. II fee
as if could make work for a regiment.
am going deeper now under them all
ard If no water comes IN, we shall be be
yond their mines by daybrcak"
There was now no sound in the Ions
tunnel but the rattle Of the barrows, tn,
| click Of the spades, and the loud, quicl
breathing of the diggers.
1t was long night, and sometimes
Louis half wondered that no relief came
But he was not at all fatigued yet, an,
as for his men, he had never seen sucl
willing fellows.
Call PARIS could get out through thi
mine, or we could let in all France b,
it," he muttered, "but it seems as if
had been digging here for week. Their
is no such thing as knowing when 1t i
day away down here in the mine. All
what is thats'
His exclamation seemed 10 bring it
answer, and Louis dropped his spade i,
astonishment, for dim, but fast increas
ing ray of light came pouring through
thin and crumbling walls in front of him
~ must have dug out into a valley O
some kind, and that may be bad. Blu
what is this2 Iron? Little bars? How
came they here at the end of the m1ne2
| He grasped> the bars firmly in hi
hands, and pressed his face against them
for broad daylight was now pouring
through h into the mine, and all his me1
had swiftly fled and disappeared.
Poor Louis!
His was bitter disappointment, TO
right in front of HIM, IN long and serriet
array, were slowly glitterlng by the Ian
ces OF German horsemen, and the spikee
helmets of German foot.
"I've missed my distance, alasl ant
come out among them9"
Nn1o NV rnNr h0u T ON Cr1oI
have stopped digging, there is no use fo
it now.' -....-...-.
A hand was on his shoulder, and Loui
replied, for he knew the voice.
+ "Why not, DR.. Spielberg9 What doe
all this meanv'
"Meanl Why, that the siege has end
ed, and Paris is now within the German
lines. You arc at the front window. O
the old Maison de Sante. in the Rue d,
tRivoli, and King Williams troops ar,
marching in. He is Emperor William
now. = 5xs, ..s,..,. j.
sand What does it all meant" !
ut means that your digging and you
Ebare food and your brandy are ended, a
told you they would, and you hav,
worked your way out of the siege for tn,
past three weeks under my own care"
"You would have mined out of it if
had lett.any tools in your reach. I hav,
thought yesterday that your fit would
break it in q day or two" .5a s.:s&.
"Then the siege is over2" .,...s
s'Over.n .5 @..-,s. ~. =:.s2 ~. :. !. ).
"Doctor!' sharply exclaimed. Louis
s:do you see that Uhlan Major on th'
white hQ1sea That is Carl Becker
Yes, have already had letter from
him. Henri is safe and we'll, and MAJ
soon be at liberty now" s35.5
Louis loosed his hold on the grating
and turned his eyes away from the glitter
ing column. 9es <
.Do,n he said, "tell me about 1t som,
other time. am tired out now. I'll e,
back into the mine and lie down. Pu
out the lights please
1Somewhat tco much; at once,n sait
DR.. Spielburg to himself ssbut 4 thinl
there's no doubt that can bring hin
Iround, now that the siege is over
To think that so many Of our poo
fellows should have developed thes
symptoms. I'm glad now that they pu
me at hospital work. q ga: 5s#s
"a NAN Of bad reputation was com
planning to thu writer that q certai1[
person had ruined his character. 9 sf3,tt f3tt
much the better replied the writer
for il Nas very bad one, and tht
annf1xAr IL yvna flnafvnvnd %1,n =, ~, 81.