Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-25

''De Rosat, my dear fellow said tht
surgeon, ''you use too much stlmulant
you are ghost already"
'But you don't know, Spiclburg; WE
are working underground like moles ii
the dark and cold, and 1 do not know a
what moment we may break in on theil
counter-mines. or be blown higher thar
this column here"
"AIining2 All! Well, you must be
careful; you cannot dig your way out
you know
''Perhaps l shall" said Louis, with q
weary, melancholy half smile; and the
stern doctor shook his head doubtfully
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 the 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.
1t was night when Louis DeRoset re-
turned to the nine; but, as he stood on
the rampant OF the fort for moment, it
seemed to him that he could see in spite
of the darkness, away over into that out
or world beyond the German lines and
the suffocating siege.
Henri he muttered; "nobody knows
what became of him. wonder if he got
through with his hussars. They sent
out three balloons yesterday.
"If they can fly over, why should not
we dig under? I must go down now.
'Spieiburg is fool; a man must take
little brandy and absinthe before 60
ing down to dig In hole like that.
The men are tired tonight, and the
rations were short to-da y. I will take a
spade myself"
In few moments Louis found him.
self in long, narrow passage that was
being bored through the earth in the di-
rection Of the nearest German works.
Not a human being did he see, though
the scanty lights were burning blue and
dim in the foul air.
There lay the tools, however. for he
had made his way to the further terni-
nus.
81 at least will work." SAID he to him
self; I am ahead of time, and they will
soon be here"
AS he tore down the soft earth and
loose gravel with pick or spade, he cast
it hurriedly behind him, for the men to
take it away in their barrows; but 1t was
long before they arrived, and he had so
piled it up as almost to wall himself in
Then he heard voices, and knew by the
ring of the tools that the men were there,
and had begun their werk, but he never
paused.
off we csuld only make such Roadway
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 the
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 of
helpers, to keep pace with the avalanche
of matter that kept pouring back into
the mine by the wonderful work of their
leader.
"MoIe men!" shouted Louis. 81 feel
as if l could make work for regiment.
am going deeper now under them all,
apd IT no water comes In, VIC shall be be-
You'd their mlues by daybreak"
There was now no sound in the long
tunnel but the rattle of the barrows, the
click of the spades, and the loud, quick
breathing of the diggers.
1t was a long night, and sometimes,
Louis half wondered that no relief came.
But he was not at all fatigued yet, and
as for his men, be had never seen such
wiling fellows.
"All Paris could get out through this
mine, or we could let in all France bv
it," he muttered, "but it seems as if
had been digging here for week. There
is no such thing as knowing when 1t is
day away down here in the mine. All |!
what is that!"
His exclamation seemed 10 bring its
answer, and Louis dropped his spade in
establishment, for dim, but fast increas-
Ing ray of light came pouring through
thin and crumbling walls in front of him.
81 murt have dug out into a valley of
some kind, and that may be bad. But
what is this2 Iron? Little bars? How
came they here at the end of the m1ne?'
He grasped the bars firmly in his
hands, and pressed his face against them,
for broad daylight was now pouring
through into the mine, and all his men
had swiftly fled and disappeared.
Poor Louis
His was bitter disappointment, for
right in front Of HIM, In long and serried
array, were slowly glltterlng by the Ian
ces OF German horsemen, and the spiked
helmets of German loot
I've missed my distance, alas! and
come out among theml"
Louis, my poor boy, 1 am glad you
have stopped digging, there is no use for
it now"
A hand was on his shoulder, and Louis
replied, for he knew the voice.
"Why not, DR.. Spielberg? What does
all this mean!'
"Meanl Why, that the siege has end
ed, and Paris is now within the German
lines. You are at the front window of
the old Maison de Sante. in the Rue de
Rivoli, and King Williams troops are
marching in. He is Emperor William
now