The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-07-23

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 a few days for the
frontier"
Max was much surprised OH going to
mess the next morning to find that the
others had without exception had their
hair cut off short. what has happened
to you alp" he asked. '.My young
friend" said the President, sin 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 a
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 short one, and what would Yo-
lande think of her handsome cousin
when he 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 week." they said. The
week passed. week under the old
fashioned tiger-skin helmet that was
worn at the time-and Max not only
did not lose hair; but it grew, on the
contrary, thicker and stronger than
ever.
The 10Th of August the Thirtieth was
drawn up at about four in the after
noon before the bell-tower of MARSHA
Tour, Max's company being on tho
right. Suddenly, not more than 800
yards in front, they saw retreating to-
ward them the Second French Hussars
pursued by the Prussian dragons.
First squadron-forward-
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 Il rally. but Max incautiously be-
came separated from his men. His
chin-straps had been severed by q
sword blow, letting his helmet roll to
the ground, when four Prussian caval-
rymen started in his pursuit Max
stopped two of them " ith his pistol,
and would have succeeded in making
nrrnA hiS hoA nt i,.l
him by the hair and given him a Sabre
stroke that luckily struck Hat and only
stunned him. His horse, mad with
fright, made a terrific leap and carried
its master back to his company, bleed
ing and unconscious, but alive. ANY
one else after an accident of this sort
would have gone at once to the barber
of the regiment, but he was in no wise
frightened by this debut-which had,
for that matter, the happy result of
placing him in a better light in the
eyes of his comrades-and he remained
as woolly as 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
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 Ion
ger tenable.
"Sacrebleum cried the Colonel, 1--WE
must have some air. One platoon of
Observation-Disclosures is ready tirstr'
NJ n n,..lnna1 hia a
crossed to the other side of the poplars
in the face of deadly fire of mitrail-
leuse. The enemy, surprised by this
movement, thought the whole regiment
was charging the batteries, and ceas-
ing their fire retreated at full speed.
One division was obliged to leave its
gun. Max, leading.a dozen of men,
charged the gunners and cut them
down, whilst the terrified drivers es-
capped with the horses. Two more
were brought and hurriedly harnessed
to the carriage and the gun was tri-
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 31st. at the Village of COincy, 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
long-haired Breton, or, as he was more
popularly known in the Army of Metz,
1.-THE Shaggy Dragon" But the last
days of the seige were at hand. The
22d of October Metz capitulated. 1t
WAS hard to surrender and go passive
ly into Germany while there still re-
manned 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
He went to Gen. c., contided to him
his scheme of passing the lines, and re-
ceived 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 a
few days attack the Army of the Loire.
He then hurried to the hotel of the Fai-
san Dore, disguised himself with a
blouse and wide straw hat, and taking
on his arm a basket of eggs set out
calmly toward the Prussian lines. ''Ot
course" thought he, al run the risk of
being shot on the spot. but even that is
better than rotting away in Germany. "
He did not go far. His explanations
to the first German sentinel who chal-
lenged him not being deemed satisfac-
tory, he was brought before the assem-
bled officers of the regiment. who. to
say the least, did not have the air OF
men favorably disposed toward the
pseudo-peasant
"Where do you come fromP" demand
ed the Colonel. frowning.
From Ladonchamps. l am going to
Grigy to carry eggs"
You know well enough that this is
no time to be carrying eggs across the
country"
Poor men cannot choose their
time" replied Max. The officers con-
suited. His hands were very white fol-
a peasants, and there was something
in his bearing that did not suggest a
man used to STOPPING and tilling the
ground. ''All this is very clear" said
fha Colonel sETaka the man away