The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-08-08

CASTOR listened with due respect e
these well-meant exhortations, but
without theslightest intention Of being
influenced by them; and, on the ar
rival e. his division at Metz some DAYS
later, had already, more than once,
declined to avail himself Of the services
OF the regimental barber.
Nevertheless, he instinctively fell
that continued refusal to conform tt
the general custom must inevitably en-.
danger his popularity, and that the
only way to atone for this obnoxiou.
slngularity WAS to distinguish himself
by some exploit which might obtain
for him an honorable mention in the
order of the day.
An opportunity soon came. On the
18th OF August his regiment. posted
near st. Private, behind an avenue OF
poplars bordering the road to Saar-
bruck, had been exposed for several
hours to CALLING fire of the German
artillery; and had suffered severely
from an incessant storm of shells,
which were beginning to set the trees
on fire. The position of the French
corps became untenable. and the
colonel. deciding that the enemy's
guns must at any cost be silenced, Or
dered a small detachment of dragons
commanded by de Langeais to charge,
and cut them off from the main body.
The Germans, taken by surprise and
imagining they were about to be at
tackled by the entire regiment. ceased
firing and hastily retreated. leaving
one OF their guns on the field, which
CASTOR, at the head of fifteen men, bore
down upon, and, sabering the gunners,
carried it triumphantlyin into the French
lines.
"Bravo!" cried the colonel, WARMLY
grasping the young sub-lieutenant's
hands; you have deserved the Cross
| for this. and will take care that you
get it,
Stimulated by this first success. and
eager to justify by some further act OF
daring the good opinion of his chief,
de Langeais neglected no opportunity
of proving himself worthy of it. Dis
patched on foraging expedition, and
attacked by an outpost of infantry, he
completely routed them and brought
ten prisoners to the camp. and few
days later held his ground for half an
hour. unsupported, save by his own
men, against an entire corps of the
enemy. His gallantry did not pass
unrewarded. Not only was the Cross
Of the Legion of Honor conferred on
him, but his name was three times
mentioned for exceptional bravery in
the order of the day, and his speedy
promotion to the rank of lieutenant
was generally regarded as certainty.
At this juncture the unexpected
capitulation of Metz was severe blow
to him, and unwilling to accept com
parative liberty on parole, he con-
ceived a project which, although ex-
tremely hazardous, might enable him
to join the Army of the Loire. His de-
sign being approved of by the general
commanding under Bazaine. who in
trusted him with letter to his COL
league, Aurelie de Paladines. inform
ing him that the army of Prince
Frederick Charles would shortly march
toward the Loire. CASTOR exchanged
his uniform for blouse and a peas
ants straw hat, and carrying basket
OF eggs. pursued his way coolly in the
direction of tho enemy's lines.
ut is a terrible risk,' he thought,
''but better be shot at once than rot in
German prison."
Challenged by the first man he met,
and arrested on suspicion. he was
taken before the colonel of the regi-
ment, who, surrounded by his officers
in council, scrutinized the prisoner
attentively.
'Where do you come from?" he in
quired in tolerable French.
'From Ladonchamps, on my way
with these eggs to Grigy,' was the
young mans reply.
"Are you aware that you run the
risk of being treated as spy?' pur-
sued his interrogation.
Necessity has no CHOICE" retorted
de Langeais with a perfectly indiffer-
ent air
During this brief colloquy, the off,
GERS glanced curiously at the stalwart
individual before them, whose appear
| ance and manner contrasted so
strangely with the homely dress he
| wore; and were almost unanimously of
the coloners openly expressed opinion
that he was no peasant, but an officer
in disguise, and consequently spy
A pause, boding no good to the &C.
cused, ensued, and in another moment
his fate would have been sealed, when
gray-haired major, who had been
intently gazing at de Langeais, sud-
denly rose from his seat.
Stay" he exclaimed. with all
submission, think you are mistaken.
This man, whoever he may be, is no
officer. All those we have taken
prisoners have been close cropped,
and no one ever heard of French
soldier on active service with such
head of hair as that"
True. the major is right" assented
several of those present.
1T may be so,'' said the colonel,
only half convinced, land in that case
he is entitled to the benefit of the
doubt. Give him a pass, and let him
60 and be hanged somewhere else."
"A narrow escape muttered Cas-
ton to himself, as he left the camp. II
wonder what Bouchard would say if he
knew it."
A week later our hero reached his
destination, and delivered his creden-
tials to the general in command, by
whom the grade of lieutenant was i'm
mediately conferred on him. At the
conclusion of the campaign he was
promoted to a captaincy, and in 1871,