The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-03

NJ Sauvage-'It's worse than the brute
beasts"
NJ Morisot, who had just hooked a
bleak, said: "And to think that it will al
ways be thus so long as there are such
things as governments"
NJ. Savage stopped him: THE repub-
lie would not have declared war"
NJ. 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 common
sense OF reasonable and peace-loving men.
agreeing on the one point that no one
would ever be free. And Mont Valerieu
thundered increasingly, demolishing with
its cannon balls French houses, crushing
out French lives, running many dream.
many Joy, many hope deferred, wreck
ing much happiness and bringing to the
hearts of women, girls and mothers IN
France and elsewhere sorrow and suffer
ing which would never have an end.
Its life." said Nj. Morisot.
"Say, rather, that it's DEATH" said NJ.
Salvage.
They started, SCARED out of their lives,
as they felt that some one was walking
close behind them. Turning around, 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 frightened
hands and floated aimlessly down the
| river In an instant the Frenchmen were
seized, bound, thrown into a boat and fer
ried over to the island.
Behind the house they had thought I'M
| inhabited was a picket of Prussian SOL
diers. A hairy giant, who was sitting
| astride q chair, and smoking porcelain
pipe, asked them in excellent French If
| they had had good sport.
A soldier placed at the feet Of the officer
the net full of fish which he had brought
| away with him.
Not bad, see, but we have other fish
TO fry. Listen, and don't alarm yourselves.
You are a couple of French spies sent out
to watch my movements disguised as fish
ermen. | take you prisoner and | order
you TO be shot You have fallen into NV
hands-so much the worse for you. 1t is
the fortune of war. Inasmuch, however,
as you came through the lines you are GER
| tainly in possession of the password.
Otherwise YOU could not get back again.
Give me the word and | will let you GO"
The two friends, ivid with fear, stood
side by side, their hands nervously
twitchinG. but they answered not a word.
The officer continued: mo one need
ever know it. You will go home quietly
and your secret will go with you. If you
refuse it is death for you both, and that
instantly. Take your choice"
They neither spoke nor moved.
The sPrussian calmly pointed to the
river and said: Reflect, in five minutes
you will be at the bottom OF that water.
1 suppose you have families"
Mont Valerien Numbered unceasenGly.
The two Frenchmen stood perfectly still
and silent.
The officer gave an order in German.
Then he moved his chair farther away
from the prisoners, and dozen soldiers
drew up in line twenty PAGES off.
81 will give you one minute" he said,
mot one second more"
He got up leisurely and approached the
two Frenchmen. He took Morisot by the
arm and said, in an undertone: "Quick
Give me the word. Your friend will know
nothing. / will appear TO give way"
NJ. Morisot did not answer.
The Prussian took NJ. Savage aside and
said the same thing to him.
M. Savage did not answer.
They found themselves. once more side
by side.
The officer gave another order; the SOL
diers raised their guns.
By accident Morisot's glance fell upon
the net full of fish on the ground few
steps of. A ray of sunshine lit up their
glittering bodies. and a sudden weakness
came over him. "Good-by, NJ. Savage"
he whispered.
"Good-by, NJ. Morrisot," replied NJ.
Savage. They pressed each others
hands. trembling from head to foot.
Fire !" said the officer.
NJ. Salvage fell dead on his face. NJ.
Morrisot, of stronger build, staggered,
stumbled and then fell right across the
body of his friend, with his face turned
upward to the sky, his breast riddled with
balls.
The Prussian gave another order. His
men dispersed for a moment, returning
with cords and stones. They tied the
stones to the feet of the dead Frenchmen
and carried them down to the river.
Two soldiers took Morisot by the head
and feet. Two others did the same to
Savage. The bodies swung to and fro,
were launched into space, described a
curve, and plunged feet first into the
river.
Lie NdtoI UuDDlou, DOlcus tuen ChlIueu
down, and the little wavelets, Hinged with
red. circled gently toward the bank.
The officer, impressive as ever, said: at
is the fishes turn now"
His eyes fell upon the gudgeon lying on
the grass He picked them up and called
out: wilhelm" A soldier in white
cap appeared. He threw the fish toward
him.
"Frv these little animals for me at once
while they are alive and kicking. They
will be delicious" .C
Then he began smoking again.