The National tribune., 1882-10-19
OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
The Soldiers Cheese: A Story Of the
Last Century.
by David ReT.l

seen = very curious sight All night long the
village folks had been busy packing up and
carrying away in carts or on horse and mule
back whatever they could most easily remove
The first CLEAN of dawn saw the h1ndmoSt
fugitives Sinking away into the passes OF the
northern hills, looking fearfully back every
now and then at the towering crest of st.
| Gothard, as if expecting the whole mountain
to fall upon them at once, or to send forth
torrent of fire that would sweep them all away.
The danger from which they were flying
was not long behind them. Scarcely had the
sun peered above the surrounding hill-tOpS
when the great white slope Of the st. GOthard
seemed to grow black all at once like q white
cloth swarmed over by flies. Instantly the
whole mountain-side was alive with bear-skin
caps, and glittering bayOnets and prancing
horses, and bright epaulets, and rumblmg
wheels, and shining cannon.
Down they came, still downward thousands
upon thousands-tall sallow grcnadiers in long
overcoats Of gray frieze, sharp-faced, narrow
eyed Cossacks with long lances in their hands,
black capped gunners glittering hussars blue
nosed, shivering staff officers-and high above
ALL futtering gayly ia the keen morning
imperial ensign of Russia.
At sight of the deserted village there was
murmur of satisfaction among the Russian SOL
diers; for it was now forty-eight hours since
any of them had touched a mOrsel of food, and
they were all as hungry as wolves
"These mountain goats have run away at
the very sound of our coming" said a big
grenader; "but so long as they've left some
food behind them, it's all right"
Isn't this the place where they said the
famous cheese was made?" suggested gaunt,
red-bearded Cossacll.
"Sure enough" cried one Of his comrades,
joyfully. Hey, brothers! won't we have
good feed when we get down there?"
A good feed they certainly did have, few
minutes later. Scarcely had the foremost bat
talon entered the village when a shout of
Cheese! cheese!" from the front drew every
one in that direction. The little shop into which
the starving men had rushed was hardly big
enough to hold twenty of them at a time but
Russian soldiers after two days fast, are not
the men to be overceremonious. In a trice the
plank front of the store was beaten in and torn
down, the shining yellow blocks which made
such q tempting show were tossed into the
street by hundreds, and there began such feast
as Andermatt had not seen for many year,
even upon market-day.
But just as they were at the busiest, MUNICH
ing and gnawing away like so many rats, few
dropping shots in front, followed by the roll of
full volley, made them all spring up and
seize their arms.
Infantry, form!" roared an officer, gallop-
ing in among them. Skirmishers, advance!
Forward! march,"
And now the work began in earnest. The
french had covered their retreat by filling the
FOOD beyond the village with sharp-shooters,
nd as the Russians moved on, the pine-clumps
around them seemed alive with cracking mus
kerry and quick putfs of white smoke, while
the gray coats of fallen soldiers dotted the snow
on every side.
But presently up came three or four light
guns at a hard trOt, and sent a shower of grape
shot rafting into the thickets, stirring the
crOuching marksmen from their covert like
rabbits. On pressed the Russians; back fell
the French: when suddenly deep, hoarse
roar was heard above all the din of the firing,
and right in front of the charging Russians, as
they broke from the wood, yawned chasm as
deep and narrow as if made by the cut of a.
sword. A quaint old bridge of moss-grown
stone spanned the gulf over which the last of
the French soldiers were just filing at a run.
No time to lose, evidently Forward sprang
the Russians with loud hurrah, when sud
denly there came report, sharp as a thunder
clap, while the whole air was filled with smoke
and dust and whiZzing masses of stone. The
bridge had been blown up, leaving an impass-
able gulf between the two armies; and a taunt-
ing laugh from the French accompanied by
volley of musketry, answered the yell of rage
that broke from their pursuers.
What was to be done? Unless they could
reach the enemy with the bayonet, the superior
numbers of the Russians would avail them
nothing; and if they stayed where they were
they would be shot down like sparrows.
"This won't do, lads" cried tall, handsome
man in rich gold-laced uniform turning to
the Cossacks who stood around him. Follow
me-"
All obeyed without word, for the speaker
was no other than Prince BagratiOn, one of the
best generals in the Russian army. Creeping
round behind the thickets, that the enemy
might not see what they were about they came
out again upon the river about half a mile
higher up, at a point where the edge of the
precipice, though quite bare and rocky ON
their side of the gap, was thickly wooded on
the other
I" If we had three or four of those trees over
here" said the Prince, they'd bridge this gap
for us famously. But how are we to get at
them2"
"Twist the officers sashes into rope, your
Highness," suggested COssack beside him,
"knOt stone i'll the end of it, fling it across so
as to catch in one of the branches, and send
somebody over on it. once robbed a house
that way myself at home in Russia"
did yOu?" said the General, with broad
grin. "Well, then, you shall make up for it by
being the first man to cross. Off with your
sashes, gentlemen"
The lmprOmptu rope was soon twisted, the
stone knotted in it, and flung so deXterously
across the chasm that it caught iii the fork of
a tree at the first cast. The daring Cossack,
with a sapper's axe slung round his neck,
swung himself nimbly over the fearful gulf,
and went to work upon the trees with such
yigOr that it was not long before three of them
lay right across the gap, bridging it completely
Then the Prince and his men, stirred to |
frenzy by the increasing uproar of the battle
below, scrambled like mad-men across the per-
ilOus bridge, and, rushing up the heights be-
yond, commenced firing down upon the French |