San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-06

Jot Then, too, the "tricolor" menaced
Holland, and the French general, Piche-
CRU, with large force, was, lowering on
the frontier like some huge bird of prey
preparing for swoop upon his quarry.
The spider, too, was constant source of
consolation, and from long observations of
| the habits of his black friend the French
man became wise. The spider never ap-
peared during bad weather, and Dis JonvaI
was able to predict frost at least a week
previous to its coming simply by watching
the spiders movements and noting his own
feelings, for he had observed that when the
spider kept securely housed he (the French
mani was usually troubled with bad
headache.
| And while Dis Jonval was amusing him
| self with these interesting observations
| troublous times came to Holland.
| Pichegru, with an overwhelming force,
advanced suddenly across the border The
stakeholder did not attempt to dispute the
march of the Frenchman. He simply TO
| tired, and when the French army was well
| in the center of the land he adopted
against the invaders the old time tactics
| that years before had baffled Spanish Alva,
| ard Lid cost q French kings brother, the
| Duke of Anjou, splendid army. The
word was given and the dykes were cut; a
| fiat country, the greater part of 1t below
| the level of the sea, Pichegru found in the
| Holland seas a far greater foe than was
| the Holland armies. The Dutchland was
| all a swamp; the Frenchman could not
advance-could hardly retreat; the fate of
| Anjou and his gallant army seemed in
store for him. he had waited until winter
set in before he had given the command
for the forward movement, for the willy
| Gaul had anticipated the tactics of the
| Holland commander But the weather
| had suddenly shifted around, and an al
most summer mildness reigned over the
! land. And affairs were thus on the morn
ing when the prisoner of Utrecht lay at
| full length upon his pallet and watched
for his friend the spider
The jailer brought the prisoner his break
fast. sorry repast enough, for the prudenG
Dutchman knew that there was nothing
like simple food TO reduce hot blood and
| curb impetuous wills.
| You do not eat, mynheer," said the
jailer, who leaned by the door, swung his
keys unsteady and watched the prisoner.
II have little appetite"
THAT is bad" the jailer remarked
thoughtfully; ''mynheer should eat and
keep his strength"
Dis Jonval made wry face
| Bah! such food as this is enough to take
| away the appetite of well man, let alone
a sick man." the Frenchman said.
THAT is true, mynhePr" the jailer re-
piled; "the food Is cora, but | will see
that you have - OC.scI ii:iner, although I
| go against my instructions and would suf-
fer if the governl--l., should end it out"
THE matter is between us two," Dis
| Jonval rejoined. II shall say nothing, and
Judge that you will not care to speak Of -.
it."
81 feel more inclined to do you kind
ness, mynheer, because two days ago
thought it might be probable that we
should change places-you become the
jailer and the prisoner
"How sol" asked the Frenchman in as
constituent.
The jaiier then related to Dis Jonval
what had transpired during the past week.
He told of Pichegru's advance, how the
French general had threatened the capture
Of Utrecht, and had only been prevented
from taking the town by the cutting of the
dykes and the flooding of the country with
| water.
you see, mynheer," said the jaler in
conclusion. "your countrymen depended
upon hard weather. If frost had come
he certainly would have taken the city, but
as 1t is he will soon have to retreat to Bel
GUM
"Hark We, Botolf," said Dis Jonval, eff
could get note to Pichegru he would be
| sure to procure my release by intercession
with the stakeholder, possibly by eXchang-
| ing prisoner for me. Now will you do
zas a good turn-give me pen, ink and pa
per, and afterward smugge the note
through the line to the French general?"
81 could do that easily enough" the
jailer said, thoughtfully. my brother is
turning pretty penny now by supplying
Pichegru with fresh provisions but'-and
he hesitated.
"Do not fear; what possible information
can l, a poor. helpless prisoner, convey to
| Pichegru?"
That is true" the jailer said. at is
bargain"
Great was the astonishment of the
| French general to receive a note dated
from the prison of Utrecht. And what did
the note contain?
A simple explanation about the spider,
| who had not appeared for three days, and
the writer's headache. Within week he
| predicted hard frest and prayed Pichegru
not to fall back.
The general knew Dis Jonval; he resolved
! to wait a week, and then, true prophet 0
| spiderl there came the hardest frost that :
| Holland had known for 100 years. The
| waters were bound with an icy chain. The
French advanced Utrecht fell and Dis +
| Jenval was released. To the spider's warn !
| ing the prisoner Of Utrecht owed his re-
| lease.-Atlanta Constitution. d
Grote wrote the larger part of the His
| tory Of Greece" between the ages of 80 and