Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-10

and they shook hands. Man hurriedly
| packed his trunk aud took the train,
happy in being n Lieutenant, and hav-
ing, besides, one cause of satisfaction
that his comrades had not--a head of
hair.
Two days afterwards he presented
himself at Lille to Col. Tournecourt of
the Thirtieth Dragons, who received
him cordially and remarked. You
are just in time. Your epaulets won't
have to wait long for the baptism of
fire, for we start in few days for the
frontier
Max was much surprised on going to
mess the next morning 10 find that the
others had without exception had their
hair cut OIL short. What has happened
to you alp" he asked. "My young
friend" said the President, ''in a
campaign one must simplify ones
manner of life. Full beard and hair
comb and razor suppressed. In the
morning simple touch of the brush
and there you are!"
Without mentioning" added n
bald-headed old sergeant" "that it's
the only way of preserving the hair
under the helmet.
Max received this good advice with
all due Difference, but inwardly re-
solved not to follow it. The war might
| be a short one, aud what would Yo-
lande think Of her handsome cousin
when no came back deprived of his
chief ornament
The regiment set out for Metz and
camped before the Mazelle Gate. At
| the table his messmates criticised his
curly head. 'Wait until you have worn
the helmet a week." they said The
week passed--a week under the old
fashioned tiger-skin helmet that was
worn at the time--and Max not only
did not lose a hair; but it grew, on the
contrary, thicker and stronger than
ever.
The 10th of August the Thirticth was
noon before the bell-tower of MARSHA
Tour, Max,s company being on the
right. Suddenly. not more than 300
yards in front, they saw retreating to-
ward them the Second French Hussars
pursued by the Prussian dragons.
First sguadron-forward- march,
cried Col. Tournecourt. In that one
moment Max seemed to see before him
his father, his good mother. his cousin
Yolande-every one who had loved
him. Then, putting spurs to his horse,
he galloped forward The Prussian
dragons recoiled and the Colonel or
dered rally, but Max incautiously be-
came separated from his men. His
chin-straps had been severed by a
sword blow, letting his helmet roll to
the ground, when four Prussian caval-
rymen started in his pursuit. Max
stopped two Of them with his pistol,
aud would have succeeded in making
good his escape had not n third seized
him by the hair and given him a sabre
stroke that luckily struck Hat and only
stunned him. His horse, mad with
fright, made terrific leap and carried
its master back to his con- pany, bleed
ing and unconscious, but alive. ANY
one else after an accident Of this sort
would have gone at once to the barb
OF the regiment, but he was iu no wise
frightened by this debut--which had,
for that matter, the happy result OF
placing him in better light in the
eyes of his comrades-and he remained
as woolly US sheep.
Nevertheless he instinctively felt that
it was impossible to hold out alone
with impunity against universal mill
tary custom, and that he must do
something to make up for it.
The 18th, at ST. Privat, the regiment
was drawn up by echelons behind the
poplars along the Saarbruck road; the
shells were falling so thick as to set the
trees on fire. The position was no lon
ger tenable.
"Sacrcbleu!' cried the Colonel, i've
must have some air. One platoon of
skirmishcrs- whichever is ready tirst!n
Max at once ordered up his men and
crossed to the other side of the poplars
in the face of Il deadly fire of mitrail-
leuse. The enemy. surprised by this
movement, thought the whole regiment
was charging the batteries. and ceas-
ing their lire retreated at full speed.
One division was obliged to leave its
gun. Max, leading a dozen of men,
charged the gunncrs and cut them
down, whilst the terrified drivers es-
capped with tho horses. Two more
were brought and hurriedly harnossed
to the carriage and the gun was tri-
J umphantly drawn behind the French
lines.
The Colonel, delighted at such an
exhibition Of bravery, that very night
proposed Max for the Cross for the
Legion OF Honor.
The 25th of August, when on scout
ing duty. he surprised an infantry
picket and brought back ten prisoners.
The 3lst, at the Village Of Coiucy. he
and his men held their own for twenty
five minutes, on foot against a whole
company of Prussians. You may be
sure that no one laughed now at the
iong-haired Breton, or, as he was more
popularly known in the Army Of Metz.
'.the Shaggy Dragon" But the last
days of the seige were at hand. Tho
22d of October Metz capitulated. 1t
was hard to surrender and 60 passive
ly into Germany while there still re-
NAMED chance of striking blow or
two in France. The 23d Max was to
give his word of honor not to try to es-
cape under penalty Of Imprisonment.
lie went to Gen. G., coutided to him
his scheme OF passing the lines. and re-
ceiyed letter from him for Gen. de
Paladines advising him that the army
OF Frederick Charles. set at liberty by
the capitulation Of Metz. would in
few days attack the Army of the Loire.
he then hurried to the hotel of the Fai-
san Dore. disguised himself with Il
blouse and wide straw hat, and taking
on his arm bayket Of eggs set Out
calmly toward the Prussian lines. ''Of
course" thought he, 81 run the risk of
being shot on the spot, but even that is
better than rotting away in Germany"
lie did not go far. His explanations