The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-05-23
Select Story.
THE BLACK BROTHERHOOD.
a LEGEND OF TnE RHINE.

] A LE
During the "Thirty Years War which
convulsed Germany, fine summers after
noon a foot traveller came to the little hos
telry of the "Traveler's Rest, which stood
by the rivers bank. His garb proclaimed
him a soldier. High black boots were
drawn half way up his thighs, in which a
loose pair of breeches lost themselves, and
a rusty breastplate covered his leathern
ierkin. A broad leafed, low crowned hat,
from which single black feather depended,
was pulled low upon his forehead. He
was armed with sword and pistols.
There was something in his martial bear
ING and firm tread that seemed to denote
the officer. So at least thought the little
sunny-haired maid of the hostelry who
came forth to serve him, for she said at
once
"What can serve you with, noble cap
tain p
"a fagon of Rhenish, and of your best
vintage, mind, and bit of something to
eat, in the first place" answered the sol
der good-naturedly chucking the girl under
the chin, like one accustomed to that ia
miliarity, 'and then bed for the night.
"The first can supply you with, but
the second, | am sorry to say l cannot.
1t was mans voice that spoke. They
had been joined by the landlord of the
hostelry-a short, pursy little man with a
fat face and red nose.
"And wherefore not ?" asked the soldier,
carelessly throwing himself on the wooden
bench under the tree that shadowed the
hostelry with its branches, whilst the girl
went into the house to procure the refresh
ments he had bespoken.
Because every room is engaged, and L
have not a spare bed left. The young
Baron Rayensburg, his sister, and their
attendants, will arrive here this evening.
Their courier was here this morning to
bespeak the rooms F"
@That's unfortunate. But | am not
particular-I am soldier, as you see-so
give me bundle of straw in one of the
out-houses, and that will content me"
sImpossible p cried the host, with an
alacrity which rather surprised the soldier,
''even as it is 1 shall be compelled to make
some of the Barop's servants sleep in the
open air. My house is but small as you
perceive, and the BaFon's retinue is large.
Ten miles further on there is an excellent
inn. You are used to marching, said the
host with attempt at facetiousness, "and
the distance will be nothing to you"
oExcuse me-" answered the soldier, tap
ping his heel with his steel scabbard, and
all the while subjected to scrutiny of
which he was unconscious. Il am not a
foot soldier, and in my long marches | have
been accustomed to use four legs instead of
two. | did not come all the way here on
foot"
"Where is your horse ?" asked the land
lord quickly, and with some anxiety, the
soldier thought.
aSome two miles from here p he an
swered carelessly.
"Two miles from here!" echoed the
landlord, quickly, "there is no house there.
"Why did you leave him p
"Simply because he could carry me no
further, and I have not been in the habit
of carrying him. He was dead "
"Dead ?'
eyes. 1t happened very strangely.
These are troublesome times, | know, but
thought the war had not invaded this
quiet province, at least | was told SO, and
therefore rode along fearless of danger.
When | came to that little glen with rocks
and woods cresting it upon either side, l
thought natural idea for soldier-that
it was capital place for an ambuscade,
and so it proved, for | had scarcely entered
it when two carbines were fired from the
thicket. My horse neighed with pain,
reared up and then fell to the earth, carry
ing me along with him. | knew that he
was badly hurt, for | had horses shot under
me before, so quickly snatched my pistols
from their holsters, extricated my feet from
the stirrups, and went down quietly with
him. Fortunately he fell stone dead, and
did not kick | lay motionless on his body
and waited for further developments. Two
men with carbines in their hands emerged
from the thicket and came rapidly towards
me. When they were within ten feet of
me l arose, and called upon them to sur
render. as was anxious to learn the cause
of this unprovoked attack, there being moth
ing in my appearance thought to suggest
the idea of booty. But the rascals, who
evidently thought me dead, were so terri
fed that they beat hasty retreat towards
the woods, so | was obliged to send couple
of bullets after them to stop them, and be-
ing an Indifferent good shot they did stop,
and unless some good Christian gives them
burial, they are likely to stop there for
some time"
"You shot them both ?" stammered the
landlord, and his teeth chartered and he
grew pale all but the tip of his nose, which,
in contrast with the rest of his face, looked
redder than ever.
"What would you have had me do ?"
asked the soldier, In his usual careless
tone "They might have fred with better
success at some other poor devil of trav-
eler, who might not have got off so easily
as | did.
"What could have possessed them to fire
upon you?' exclaimed the landlord, and it
almost appeared he was asking himself the
question as much as he did the soldier.
Precisely the question asked myself"
returned the soldier, "and since you have
mentioned the expected arrival of the
young Baron of Ravensburg, | have clue
to the whole affair. Some outlaws, having
heard of the Baron's journey, have formed
plan to waylay him. These two men
were sent forward as scouts to apprize the
others of the Baron's approach. Seeing a
solitary horseman approach, they concluded
to plunder a little on their own account.
As l was not molested further on my way
! thither, the rendezvous of the band must