The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-08
THE GUIDE.

the mouse that still occupy. L had slept
at lbach(a village in Switzerland when
in going out of the inn, l was arrested
by four grenadiers; they conducted me
before the general; I had no idea what
they wanted to do with me.
do you speak Frenchp' said he to me.
sit is my language"
"Have you lived long in this coun-
tryT
NEARLY five years."
"And do you know it?'
"Well, l should think I do"
sit is well, captain" continued the
general, turning to an officer who was
awaiting orders; "here's the man you
want. If he behaves himself, give him
a reward; if he shows treachery, shoot
him down."
'Do you hear?' asked the captain.
Yes, captain" l answered.
"Very well; now come"
"Where toY" ..
"Tll tell you presently"
"But il"
"March-no more arguments, or I'll
knock you down."
AS there was nothing for me to say,
started. He marched along the valley,
and when we had passed Schonembuch,
where the advance posts of the French
were, Hold" said the captain, looking
me full in the face; "now we begin in
earnest. You must take us to the right
or left, and conduct us to the village of
lhuotta; we have some business there,
and take care that we don't fall in with
a party of the enemy for I warn you
that at the first shot"--here he took q
gun from one of the soldiers that carried
two, and whirling it around in his hand,
let the muzzle fall within an inch of nv
head, 'Tll break your head"
But it might happen" said l, "that--"
VI have warned you; SO now make
your arrangements in consequence. Not
a word more; march,"
There was silence in our ranks as we
marched up in the mountain, as it would
conceal our march from the Russians
who were at Muotta, passed behind the
fir-trees which are still in front of our
house. As l arrived before at our home,J
turned toward the captain. Captain"
said |, to him, wouldn't you permit me
to 90 and tell my wife of thisF
"Ah, traitor" said the captain, giving
me two raps on the shoulders; "you
would betray U.s."
"Me. captainl Ohw
"Sllence, and marchW
There was nothing to say, as YOU see.
We passed within fifty yards of the
house, without my being able to speak
word to nv poor wife. l was in pitiable
rage. Soon, by clearing, we perceived
Muotta; | pointed it out to him with my
finger, as ] dare not speak. He saw the
Russians advancing by the route.
"All right" said the captain. "Now,
you must conduct US as rear as possible
to these fellows, and without being
seem"
1T is very easy" replied I, "there is a
road where the woods extend to within
fifty feet of the route"
"Ihe same we now are on?
"No, another; there's plain between
the two, but the second woods will hide
us when we go out of the first"
'Lead us to the road ;but take care that
we are not discovered; for-you know
the penalty"
We retraced our steps; for I wanted
to take all precautions possible to pre-
vent our being seen, convinced that the
captain would keep his word. At the
end OF quarter of an hour we arrived
at the spot; there was about three miles
from one wood to the other. All was
quiet around us. We entered the wide
space, and so far well; but when within
twenty feet of the other wood, we were
met by terrible fire Of musketry.
ooh, but hold" said l to the captain.
'1t appears as if the Russians have had
the same idea as we."
had no time to say more; it seemed
to me as if the mountains had descended
on my head. 1t was the butt of the cap
tain's rifle. saw some fire and blood,
reeled and fell.
When ] came to myself again it was
night; did not know where / was; |
was ignorant of what had happened;
remembered nothing else, only that my
head was trightfully heavy. 1 put my
hand there; l felt my bloody locks cling
ing to my forehhad; | saw my shirt full
of blood; around me lay dead bodies;
then recollected all.
l wanted to rise, but it seemed as if
the earth trembled, and l was obliged to
rest, at first, until my strength had re-
turned little. ! remembered that there
was a spring running few yards from
where lay. l dragged myself thither
on my knees, batheu my wounds, and
drank few mouthfuls. 1t did me good.
Then | thought of my poor wife, and the
anxiety she must be suffering. This
gave me courage. | looked about, and in
short time was on the way.
1t appears that the body that I had
guided had fought and retreated by the
same road that had taken. All along
the route I saw corpses, but soon I didn't
see any, where, it seems the enemy
ceased to pursue.
kept on about quarter Of an hour,
when / saw the house; between it and
the woods there was an open space, where
| ua mead IN nastIlra nur Honk au1 at