Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-05-12
CHAPTER VIII.
THE BERLIN ROAD.

THE BERLIN ROAD.
They rode on most of the night
without any adventures, though
Gabriel could hear at intervals the
hoofs, OF horses in the rear, telling
that some one was following but
as the morning dawned, he began
to be sensible that the horses OF the
escort were giving out while the
carriage was reduced to slow trot.
They had been unable to secure
post-hOrses all night, the animals
having been taken into the service
of the army; and Gabriel fOreSaW
that he would soon have to halt or
dismiss the escort if he found hors-
es. AS the sun rose, however, they
came to II pOst-hOuse out OF the
range of French foraglng parties,
and here they found that there were
plenty of horses at last.
The postmaster, when he was ap-
piled to, looked puzzled when he
saw the glittering party OF culrass-
iers, and said:
"Certainly, Herr Officer, l can
give you horses for the carriage;
but not for all this party. Besides,
they will not let you cross the IRON.
tier, which is only a mile beyond"
"Why not asked Gabriel.
"Eh, do you not know, Herr Ofh-
Ger, that the French have violated
Prussian territory in their advance
and that the King of Prussia Is fu-
rious and swears that he will go to
war if he does not have an apOl-
ogy !"
This was news to Gabriel, but he
pretended Innocence, took his horS-
es and rode on with his escort till
they came to a house by the road
side where he found a whole COM
pany of Prussian infantry waiting,
with a red-faced captain in com
| mand.. ...
AS they came to the house, the
PruSSianS were seen OStentatlOuSly
loading their guns, and the captain
called out:
"Halt! we want no French sol
dierS here. This is Prussian
ground"
Gabriel halted his men, rode up,
| and told who he was and on what
errand.
The red faced captain replied:
"The soldiers must turn back.
You can go on alone if you wish,
but not in uniform. The orders are
| strict.'
"Can my groom follow with my
| horse ?" asked Gabriel.
"NO. If that man is yOurserVant,
he can ride on the box, but you can
not go into Prussia In this guise." "
Here the marquise put out her
head.
"What does the man say, cap
tain % she asked nervOusly. " Are
they gong to fight any more %
If they do, l shall die.
Gabriel smiled.
"No madame. We have arrived
at Prussian territory and they will
not let me proceed any further un-
less 1 get into the carriage and send
back the escort"
The marquise bowed gracious
ly. ;,
Certainly monsieur. We shall
be charmed to have companion 4;
for in truth it is very dull travelling
alone"
The young lady said nothing, but
Gabriel fancied he saw her face
frightened up little as he dis
mounted and came to the carriage
door.
But again the Prussian captain
interposed: o,. ,,,- ,,.oot,o,. IN
that uniform. Have you no plain
clothes with you, monsieur 2"
Gabriel laughed.
"Certainly but where am L tc
dress? Not in the road, before la,
dies. Let me go on to the neXi
post-hOuse where / can get room
and breakfast"
Somewhat unwillingly the cap
tain gave his consent, and Gabriel
had the pleasure of seeing his late
escort moving slowly off on the
road to NOrdingen, while Case
Tete took his seat on the box, in hi.
heavy accouterments, as if he hac
been a footman all his life.
He cast d regretful glance aftel
the two horses as they were lee
away, muttering:
, 81 hope We'll not be sorry for los
ing you before we've done thisjour
, ney, my beauti s."
In truth cuirassier without hi
horse feels like a fish out of water
, He is not used to fighting on foot
like a hussar or dragoon.
f Gabriel himself entered the car
riage with bow to the ladies, anC
! they drove on into the Prussial
territory, where everything seemed
to be as quiet as the grave for sever
al miles, till the carriage suddenl.
halted in the middle of a wood, ant
Gabriel heard the voice of Cass
Iete, calling:
"Out, my captain, out? A curses
/ Prusssan- trick ~
3 The marquise began to scream
f Inez turned very pale and instinC
lively caught hold OF the yOun
! cuirassier's arm, and Gabriel with
! curt:
. Excuse me, ladies'"
e Caught up his pistols from tn
r carriage pocket, opened the doc
4 and jumped out, to find two men 6
Y the horses heads and four more coy
s erlng Case Tete and the postillio
a with leveled carbine5.