Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-04-23

I
opening of the window. Eight SER
wants were setting at dinner, round
large table. But. all ct once, one Of
the maid-servants dropped her glass,
and sat staring open.rnouthed. They
all turned round to see what she was
looking at. They caught sight Of the
enemy. God help us (! the Prussians
have attacked the castle !"
There was scream, made up Of
eight screams in eight different tones
- cry of deadly terror. Then there
was tumultuous uprising, a pushing,
and scrambling and wild fight to-
ward the door at the end of the room.
Chairs fell, men knocked down women
and trampled them under foot. In
two seconds the room was empty and
deserted, and right in front of Walter
Schnafis, standing stupefed before the
window, was the table laden with food.
After few moments hesitation he
stepped over the window-sill and went
up to the table. He shook with fam
inc as he had with fever; but he was
still held back and paralized by his
fears. He listened. The whole house
seemed to shake; doors banged, and
footsteps hurried across the floor above.
The Prussian strained his ears to catch
the confused sounds then he heard
dull thuds as Of bodies falling on the
soft ground at the foot of the walls
human bodies jumping out of the first
floor wondows. Then every move
ment, every sound ceased, and the
great castle was as silent as the grave.
Walter Schnaffs sat down before
one of the untouched plates and began
to eat. He devoured great mouthfuls,
as if he was afraid of being interrupt
ed before he had time to swallow
enough. He threw the morsels into
his mouth with both hands, as if he
was throwing them into pit he ate
so fast that great Jumps Of food stuck
in his throat and had to be washed
down with copious draughts of water.
He emptied all the plates, and all the
dishes, and all the bottles, till he was
drunk with food and liquor. Red, and
stupid, and hiccoughing. with dull
head and greasy lips, unbuttoning his
uniform to breathe. he was utterly in
capable Of stirring step. He shut
his eyes-his brain was heavy; he
crossed his arms upon the table and
laid his head down upon them. and
went off gently to the land of dreams.
The crescent moon shone dimly
above the trees in the park. 1t was
the chill hour before dawn. Shadows,
many and silent, glided among the
shrubs, and now and then ray of
moonlight shone upon pointed steel.
The castle stood black and silent
only two windows were lighted up on
the ground floor. All at once thun-
dering voice roared out:
Forward ~
For an instant doors, and shutters,
and windows gave way before rush
of men, who burst in, breaking every
thing, taking possession of the house.
In a moment fifty soldiers armed to
the teeth, sprang into the kitchen
where Walter Schnaffs was sleeping
peacefulIy-ffty rifles were placed
against his chest; he was thrown down,
rolled over, seized, and bound hand
and foot.
He was breathless with amazement,
too besotted to understand what was
going on, beaten, battered, and half
mad with fright. All ut once II stout
soldier, bedizened with gold, put his
foot upon his chest and roared:
"You are my prisoner. Surrender
"The Prussian only heard one word
he gasped out: IVA
va, va"
The victors, blowing like grampuses,
picked him up, bound him to chair,
and examined him with great curios.
ity. Several Of them sat down, quite
worn out with fatigue and excitement.
Sch naffs was smiling now he was
safely made prisoner at last. Anoth.
or officer came in and announced:
"The enemy have taken flight, COL
onel several of Them seem to have
been wounded. The place is ours"
The stout soldier who was hopping
his forehead, shouted, Victory !"
And he wrote in little book that he |
took out Of his pocket: after des-
1erate struggle, the Prussians were
obliged to beat retreat, carrying off
their dead and wounded, reckoned at
about fifty men. Several have fallen
into our hands"
The young officer asked: "What
IS to be done now, colonel ?"
1--WE must fall back in case the
enemy returns with artillery and re-
nforcements." And he gave the
order to fall back.
The column re- formed in the dark
ineer the castle walls, and moved off
with Walter Schnaffs in its midst,