Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-07-12
As he paced to and fro in that me

In an instant all thought OF duty
escaped him, the vigilant eyes no
longer swept the horizon, the keen
ears grew deaf To all but the dull,
agonizen beating of "A heart that felt it
would never again find rest or peace
on the earth's wide face. Suddenly he
started and looked round. Alas for
that trance OF pain, that short forget
fullness! The dull thud of horses feet
came loud and dis tinct to his ears-in
the shadow-play OF night and dawn he
saw the flash OF arms, and while his
alarm rang clarion clear throughout
the slumbering camp, he knew how
vain the warning was.
In an instant all was stir, hustle,
confusion.
With marvellous celebrity the troops
got under arms. but their actions were
not rapid enough for the charging
sweep OF The foe, who trebled their
scanty numbers and bore down on
them with an eagles swoop.
The hoofs of rearing chargers
struck at them on every side,
the clash Of swords and
air. 1t was "A conflict sharp and short,
conflict hand to hand, breast to
breast over which the morning broke
gray, and siivery, and beautiful, as
though in mockery of the brute pas
sions and the murderous follies Of
men.
The struggle was brief. Outnum-
bered six to one, there was little doubt
OF how it must end. Escape or victo-
ry were alike impossible. The Prus-
SLAMS were victors ere the day was an
hour old.
The prisoners OF war--humiliated:
disarmed, furious as trapped beasts
were handed over to "A detachment OF
the Prussian corps. Their ultimate
fate was not yet decided upon. The
victory OF Sedan had led to its evacua-
ton. and the Bavarian and Prussian
corps were marching rapidly toward
Paris. The conquerors We're exultant
the fate of war seemed certain now.
All Paris was in revolt, confusion
and excitement reigned everywhere.
In military circles but one issue SEEM
ed possible, and though "Guerre out
trance was still in every Frenchman's
mouth, the German armies treated it
as mere matter OF time.
The improvised and Republican
armies of France, drawn from all
sources, and in many cases unframed
and undisciplined, might certainly
convert the war OF arms into one of
siege, but with Metz and Sedan in
their hands, and the flower OF the
French army, either killed or prison
ers, the Prussians might well be con-
fdent, and treat their enemy's def
ance as mere bravado.
Pierre LerouX had been severely
wounded. Unconscious of all that was
passing around him. he lay through
out the long weary day. Pain held him
powerless. his strong frame lay bruis-
ed and stricken, his eyes were closed,
a if lead weighed down their lids.
| Unfamiliar voices sounded in his ears,
but he had no consciousness of their
words. Weak with los, Of blood, dir
~ and faint with the exhaustion of
long fasting and incessant fatigue, so
he lay, wondering dimly if death was
at hand now-the death he he'd prayed
for 80 long.
Ii his captors had been as merciless
a he desired, another dawn would
never have greeted his earthly sight;
but with a certain rough kindness and
compassion they had tended his
wounds, and when consciousness re-
turned. and fever at last left him, he
found himself in an ambulance wagon
in a part of the country totally new
and strange to him.
With sense and feeling came back
the remembrance of his fate He was
q prisoner. Doubtless his captOrs
were about TO take him to their own
land; stray words he caught here and
there. all seemed to point 10 this as
conclusive. He glanced round the
straw lined vehicle as it jol,ed over
the rough uneven roads. Four other
figures were stretched there like him
Self. Now and then a moan of pain
escaped them. One he recognized as
the gay young soldier who had laugh
ed and jested at the wine tavern the
evening before that sharp and short
'HCount'I WIFI ne tuclhN, WHOSE rt-
suits had been 50 disastrous.
1T is you, then, Poupard, is it?" he
said languidly. Are you hurt?"
Should | be here else?" grunted
tfte other ungraciouslv. Devil take
those brutes. they have crushed every
bone in my body,I veryily believe"
How waste Pierre asked larguid-
ly.
1T was one Of their horses; the
hoofs struck me down. was dragged
out from under the animal afterward.
50 they say. 4 shot had killed him,
and he fell on me. Dame. why did he
not kill me outright? Twould be
better than to be manned for life, as
| assuredly shall be now"
Pierre sighed YEARLY. Perhaps he
thought there were worse things to
endure even than 10 be MANNED for
life.
Are they taking us to their own
cursed country, think you?" demanded
Poupard presently.
II canno, say. do not even re-
member how long ! have been here.