The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-13
CHAPTER III.

/
A mad race began. The zOuaves heard
very plainly the hurried steps of the hos
tile foot soldiers pursuing them; they
| felt the Prussians at their heels, and
they swore furiously, ashamed to have
to fly in this manner.
"Uhlans!'' exclaimed some one.
Indeed, at their left, the zouaves could
distinguish, in the penumbra, the gallop-
ing cavalrymen and could hear the noise
of the horses hoofs. The uhlans were
trying to head off the little troop, in Or
der to get them between two fires.
Great God" exclaimed Bayardet,
'we must reach the edge of the woods;
once there, we can laugh at them"
A horseman passed at full speed with
out seeing them at a distance of thirty
yards.
Lieutenant" said zouave, "Iet me
bring that rascal down"
Not yet"
And Bayardet knocked the lifted wea-
pom in the air.
But the Prussians knew the ground
very well. Their cavalrymen had pass
ed the zouaves, and the circle was clos
ing in. In a few moments all retreat
would be cut off. The night had grown
less dark, and the uhlans could be seen
very distinctly, swiftly going and COM
ing, with their long lances in their hands,
like foragers
80 much the worse!' shouted Bay
ardet; fire at will, but keep running"
Ten shots followed this order. The
Uhlans disappeared, and all was silence
again. But this calm lasted only few sec
onds. A formidable rattle of musketry
rang through the air, then a second,
then third. The Prussians were firing
by rounds and at random. No one was
hit.
Keep on running" said the lieuteu-
ant.
Already in the half light the zouaves
saw in the distance the tree tops of the
thick grove that surrounded the plain,
when Just ahead of them there was a
flash, and discharge made the earth
tremble. A few men fell The zouaYes
were headed off.
Pick up the wounded and file TO the
right" cried Bayardet.
He had noticed, not far away, hut,
in the shelter of which his little troop
could offer resistance for a long time.
The zouaves reached it, improviBed bar
ricades, and opened fire upon the enemy.
Nevertheless. the Prusslans advanced.
They were within hearing distance. and
rom time TO time one or their Objects
summoned the French to surrender at
discretion. Each time he was answered
BY q shower OF bullets.
Then to the Gin of the combat succeeded
again an overwhelming silence. The
Prussians, despairing of overcoming this
handful of brave fellows. and not want
ing to carry the hat by storm, which
would have cost them too many lives,
had resolved undoubtedly to establish a
blockade, certain that the French would
finally lay down their arms.
Thus an hour passed.
Bayardet, who had picked up the gun
of one Of the wounded in order to shoot
like a common soldier, was very much
alarmed. Never could be pass over the
bodies Of the Prussians; there were too
many of them The zou1ves had used
up half Of their cartridges, and when
their ammunition should be exhausted
their last resource would be 70 risk
almost certain death In an attempt 10
force their way out with the bayonet-
for the lieutenant did not even dream of
surrendering. BE was much depressed.
What would they think of him for thus
throwing himself into the jaws Of the
wolf? OF him, al old soldier, accustomed
to ali the tricks of the Arabs, who had
fought for twenty years IN Algeria, in
the Crimea, in Italy, II Mexico, and who
had just got himself caught ike an or
binary conscript, with fifty men7 What
ever his heroisn. he could foresee the
blame that would be heaped upon him.
II was dishonor.
Lieutenant said his sergeant, there
IS one way. l will start If you like. Per
maps lean slip through the lines of these
eaters OF sauerkrsaE I win reach the
camp and briD< back GId. for surely they