The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-07-22

others, till every second, as IL Seemeu
the mountain breathed out death. and
the white smoke formed funeral pail
above it.
M. Savage shrugged his shoulders.
'They are beginning again" he said.
M. Morisot, anxiously watching his
float bob up and down, was suddenly
seized with rage against the belliger-
ents and growled out: 'How idiotic
to kill one another like that"
M. Sauvage-Its worse than brute
beasts.
NJ Morisot, who had just hooked
bleak, said: 'And to think that it will
always be thus, so long as there are
such things as governments"
M. Salvage stopped him: THE re-
public would not have declared war"
M. Morisot, in his turn: with
kings we have foreign wars. with the
republic we have civil wars"
Then in a friendly way they began
to discuss politics with the calm, COM
mon sense of reasonable and peace
loving men, agreeing on the one point
that no one would ever be free. And
Mont Valerien Numbered increasingly,
demolishing with its cannon balls
French houses, crushing out French
lives, running many a dream, many
joy, many hope deferred, wrecking
much happiness, and bringing to the
hearts of women, girls. and mothers
in France and elsewhere sorrow and
suffering which would never have an
| end.
'.It's life," said M. Morisot.
Say rather that's it's DEATH" said
M. Savage.
They started. scared out of their
lives, as they felt that some one was
walking close behind them. Turning
round they saw four men-four tall,
bearded men-dressed as servants in
/ livery and wearing fiat caps upon their
| heads. These men were covering the
| two fishermen with rifles.
The rods dropped from their fright
ened hands and foated aimlessly down
the river. In an instant the French
men were seized, bound, thrown into a
boat, and ferried over to the island.
Behind the house they had thought
uninhabited was picket of Prussian
soldiers. A hairy giant, who was sit
porcelain pipe, asked them in excellent
French if they had had good sport,
"A S0IuTer pfaceu at Cne Ieer OF the or
6eer the net full of fish which ho had
brought away with him.
Not bad, l see. but we have other
fish to fry. Listen, and don't alarm
yourselves. You are couple of French
spies sent out to watch my movements,
disguised as fishermen. l take you
prisoner and order you to be shot.
You have fallen into my hands-so
much the worse far you. 1t is the for
tune of war. Inasmuch, however, as
you came through the lines you are
certainly in possession of the pass
word. Otherwise you could not get
back again. Give me the word and
will let you CO."
The two friends, livid with fear,
stood side by side, their hands ner.
vously twitching. but they answered
not word.
The officer continued: No one
need ever know it. You will go home
quietly and your secret will go witt
YOU. If you refuse it is death for you
both and that instantly. Take YOU
choice"
They neither spoke nor moved.
The Prussian calmly pointed to thu
river and said: Reflect, in five min
utes you will be at the bottom of thai
water. 1 suppose you have families. ,
Mont Valerien thundered unceasing
ly.
The two Frenchmen stood perfectly
still and silent.
The officer gave an order in Ger
man. Then he moved his chair farther
away from the prisoners and dozel
soldiers drew up in line twenty pace
off.
81 will give you one minute, HI
said, mot one second more"
He got up leisurely and approached
the two Frenchmen. He took Moriso
by the arm and said. in an undertone
s'Quick! Give me the word. You
friend will know nolhing. l will ap
pear to give away"
M. Morisot did not answer.
The Prussian took M. Savage asid
and said the same thing to him.
M. Salvage did not answer.
They found themselves once NOR
: side by side.
The officer gave another order; tn
soldiers raised their guns.
| By accident Morisot's glance fell W
: on the net full of fish on the ground
t few steps off. A ray of sunshine lit u
their glittering bodies, and sudde
: weakness came over him. 'Good-b,
3 NJ. Savage" he whispered.
: "Good-by. M. Morisot," replied \
e Savage. They pressed each other
8 hands, trembling from head to foot.
2 Firer' said the officer.
5 M. Savage fell dead on his face, \
Morisot, of stronger build, staggere
r stumbled, and then fell right across Il
e body of his friend, with his face turne
e upward to the sky, his breast riddle
q with balls.
The Prussian gave another orde
1T His men dispersed for moment, T
Is turning with cords and stones. Tht
r, tied the stones to the feet of the def
q Frenchmeu and carried them down
s. the river.
l. Mont Valerien thundered unceasin
1t ly.
,r Two soldiers took Morisot by t
" head and feet. Two others did t
r. same to Savage. The bodies swul
to to and fro, were launched into spaC
III described curve, and plunged fe
n: first into the river.
Of The water bubbled, boiled, tn
calmed down, and the little wavele
re tinged with red, circled gently iowa
ed the bank.
ST. The officer, impassive as ever, sa
stIt is the fishes turn now"
up His eye fell upon the gudgeon lyi
a on the grass. He picked them up a
called out: wilhelm" A soldier
d. white cap appeared. He threw
IN fish toward him.
he FRY these little animals for me
once, while they are still alive q
en- kicking. They will be delicious"
to Then he began smoking again
nix Guy de Maupassaat in the Strand M
ny dzi1e.
to Fighting Between Men-of-War NJ