Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-06-16
CHALLENGED

WIElCIl OCitCl
interpreted as an order to stop.
The Russian had come up on the
left side, on which Gabriel was lead
ing the colone's horse, which was
trOtting at the same even gait as the
others, and the two Orderlies with
their horses painting at every stride
were about ten PAGES in rear.
LenOir shook his rein and sWerv-
ed off to the right, the led horse fol-
lowing him. AS he did so the Rus
sian officers boot touched the met
tlesome charger in the flank, and it
lashed out viciOusly.
The adjutant uttered cry of pain
and dropped to the rear instantly,
clapping his hand on his leg.
Casse Tete laughed.
"That settles your case, my
friend" he said aloud.
1t was the worst thing he could
have done, for he spoke French.
In a moment the Russian officer
cried out.
"Ogou! Ogou! Frctazt! Frdnzi
Fire fire French! French
He pulled out a pistol as he spoke
and urged his horse fierceIy, firing
long shot.
Gabriel heard the bullet whistle
past his ear, and he laughed taunt-
ingly. He saw that they were dis
covered and did not care now what
happened.
The three Russians fired four
shots after the fugitiyes but in vain,
and then began to fall into the rear. /
The discovery that they were fol-
lowing French soldiers damped
their ardor Immediately. :.
On went the two adventures at
the same rapid slashing trot, and
the forms of their pursuers were fa-
ding into the dark fog when they
were startled by loud shout ahead,
and came on horSeman who stood
in the road.
"The. picket my officer" cried
Casse Tete.
1--WE must rush himn i
"BangW
There was a flash in the fog, and
Gabriel's horse gave a bound in the
air while the sharp thud of Il bullet
told he was hit somewhere.
They never halted moment, but
dashed on, when the Russian picket
vedette took to his heels and gallOp-
ed into the fields, shouting as he
went. ....
Presently there was line OF red
flashes in the fog on the right, and
they heard the whistle Of bullets all
round them, but for the most part
overhead.
Gabriel felt the bay horse begin
ming to flag, and pulled the colonel's
charger up alongside, changing his
seat rs they rode on with dexterity
that surprised himself, showing how
his wits were made alert by the dan.
ger.
Then he cast loose the bay, and
then dashed on at the grand sweep
ing trot till they found themselves
at last alone in the dark fog on the
high road.
They had passed the pickets safe
ly.
Then Gabriel pulled up to a walk.
1--WE shall need all these horses
can do before we reach our lines"
he said to Casse Tete, "and in the
mean time we must remember that
there is another force of caverly
ahead of us somewhere. We may
come on them at a moment we least
expect it,"
They rode on at walk for about
a mile further, but heard no one be-
hind them.
sit seems 10 me, my officer" said
Casse Tete, "They have given up
the chase" ..
Gabriel shook his head.
"Not bit of it. They expect to
catch us yet. We shall come on the
others before long"
He was right, for in less than an
hours time they saw red glare
through the fog ahead of them, and
were almost instantly halted by an
other picket, whose helmet looming
up in the fog showed him to be eth
er a cuirassier or a dragoOn.
The click of his carbine-lock
showed him to be Il dragoon, for
cuirassiers carry no carbines.
They halted at once, and Gabriel
called out something which was not
French nor Russian, but the Ger
man word, "Friends ~
He knew that there were some
Austrians in the Russian camp, and
it struck him he might pass for one
in the dark.
The Russian recognized the Ian
guage in the dark, but seemed to be
puzzled.
He answered in Russian and fired
off his piece.
"NoW, my officer" whispered
Casse Tete, "now is the time to rush
him.
"Keep STILL" was the answer.
"He has called for the corporal, who
probably understands German. We
will get through. We cannot run
through this force rs we did the
other"
Presently another helmet lOOmed
out of the fog and another dragoOn
rode up who came out to our two
cuirassiers.
"Who you ?" he asked in broken
German.
"Count Won Swartz, of the I'm
perial Cuirassiers," answered Ga
briel, readily. ave are OH miss
ion to the French lines TO exchange
some prisoners. 1t is very import
ant that we hurry"
The Russian dragOOn listened, but
evidently understood little.
"You come see captain" he said,
slowly. >
"With pleasure" answered Ga
briel and AS they rode off he kept
up food of German conversation.
to all Of which the dragoon only an
swered:
Z" "Nicltts ferstehe.n
When they had got out of sight Of
the picket, Casse Tete pulled his
officers sleeve and made a motion
toward the hiit of his. sword, un-
seen by the dragoOn.