The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-05-21
DANGEROUS SITUATION.
An Americans Experience in the
Franco-Prussian War.

tie French village that had just been
taken possession of by the Germans. /
was correspondent for Cincinnati pa
per during what the French persist in
calling the Franco-Prussian, and the
Germans persist in calling the Franco
German war.
A low stone coping ran along the
road at the end of the village, and one
sunny day l stood here leaning against
the wall, beside the sentry.
For several days only some slight
skirmishes had taken place between
the two armies engaged at this point.
They were separated here by dimin-
utive valley, whose sides were covered
with that most delicious fruit for which
this region of the Moselle is famous
punches of glowing autumn grapes.
Those grapes, as l gazed down upon
them, tempted me wonderfully. ] knew
the sentry beside me; he was a huge
Pomeranian, who, in the capacity of his
calling had shaved me number OF
times in the capital of Prussia. But as
! expressed an inclination to descend
the hillside and secure some of the
fruit, the sentry shook his head.
Down there said he, 'in the midst
of that thicllet of trees and vines, the
place was swarming with Frenchmen
only too eager to get shot at a man"
! laughed at his words. "Why, what
can you see down there, Moritz?" said.
And, in truth, as we gazed down, the
| scene seemed peaceful enough.
Two peasant women, in gaudy cos
tunes, were gathering grapes in little
| baskets. Beyond, on the other side of
| the valley, ran a wall, upon which we
could catch glimpse of the red trousers
of the French sentry lolling there.
After moments hesitation l leaped
suddenly over the coping and ran light
| " down the hill. Moritz cried the
words of hasty warning after me, but
the sounds fell unintelligibly upon my
ears. The two French peasant women
dropped their baskets, and ran hastily
away at the sight of what they took to
be the approach of one of those dreaded
| PrussianS
| In another moment my parched gums
were feasting upon those famous
grapes. They were delicious. l can
taste them yet.
My pleasure was of short duration.
From some close quarter a shot came
suddenly and tore away a bunch few
inches from my outstretched hand.
thought at first that this was joke on
the part of my friend, the sentry, and
was just turning about to protest
against such grim humor when another
| shot came in as close proximity, but
fortunately without harIning me.
The bright sun dazed my faculties fol
an instant. What should ] do? | coult
not ascend that steep and unprotected
hill behind me and reach the stone cop
ing alive.
plunged into the thicket where prob
ably the very danger was lurking; ant
yet it was my only refuge.
slipped carefully through the rows
of vines until l found myself in the
shelter of the trees that covered tn,
bottom of the valley. A little stream
ran past here, and the wood, though
small, was very dense.
What troubled me most was that the
cracking twigs cease!essly betrayed
my footsteps. The whole ground wa!
covered with dead branches. halted
and listened, after every step, for an
other sound or sign of the enemy
If they were near they must infalli
bly, have heard the noise of my move
ments; yet could not hear the slight
est noise of their presence.
As | stood here, unmolested for
time at least, | began to speculate on {
way out of this dilemma into which
had thoughtlessly wandered. My ey,
restlessly roamed from tree to tree
seeking a safe avenue for retreat. Al
things were so still that ] could hear
faint rafting of musketry, so distan
that the fall of leaf would hav
drowned the sound borne on the trem
bling wind.
OF u sudden grumbling voice broli
upon my ears SO close to me that it wa
start ing.
'Ou est it doncP" inquired the grum
bier, in voice that was intended TO
his companion only, but which reache
me distinctly, so near were we to eacl
other.
The other answered, but mis- word
escaped me. They spoke together il
lowered tones as they stood there, an
from what overheard, they seemed t.
think that !, not being in uniform, wa
Il spy trying to creep through the Frenc
lines.
A sudden great cracking of the twig
made me retreat TO the stream, am
covered the sound of my progress.
"Ah," | muttered to myself, ''ther
come the two grape-pickers. l though
that the two Frenchmen were approach
ing to investigate my position, but here
instead, the noise was caused by tn
heavy sabots of the two peasan
women, who advanced, peering throug
the trees, as if they were also seellin
the whereabouts of the fugitive Pru'
sian.
Thele was something odd in their al
pearance and, though | could gain bu
IL passing glimpse of them, made di
aCYery.
'Vhe two women were carrying musl
cts in their hands.
Those, indeed, were masculine form
aud faces And their voices! Fo,
that was, not 10 have recognized thel
before.