The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-01
THE PRISONERS.

There was no sound in the forest except
the slight rustic of the snow as it fell upon
the trees. 1t had been falling, small and
fine, since midday; it powdered the branches
with frosty moss, cast silver veil over
the dead leaves in the hollow, and spread
upon the pathways great, soft, white
carpet that thickened the immeasurable
silence amid this ocean of trees. Before
the door of the keepers lodge stood bare
armed young woman chopping wood with
an aX upon stone. She was tall, thin and
strong-a child of the Forest daughter
and wife of gamekecpers. A voice called
from within the house: Come in, Ber-
thine; we arc alone tonight and it is get
ting dark. There may be Prussians or
wolves about"
II have finished, mother; there is moth
ing to be frightened at" Then she brought
in her fagots and her logs and piled them
up Mt the chimney side, went out again to
close the shutters-enormous shutters of
solid oakland then, when she came in,
pushed the heavy bolts of the door,
Her mother was spinning by the lire-a
wrinkled old woman who had grown tim
orous with age. 81 don't like father to be
out" she said. 1.-Two women have no
strength"
The younger answered, ooh, could very
well XIII wolf or II Prussian; l can tell
you" And she turned her eyes to n large
revolver hanging over the fireplace Her
husband had been put into the army Mt
the beginning of the Prussan invasion,
and the two women had remained alone
with her father the old gamekeeper, Mich
oias Plchou, who had obstinately refused
to leave his home and go into the town.
1.tl, II 4
fortress perchcd on II rock The Prussians
were not far off, for their scouts had al
ready twice pushed across the forest us far
as Nicholas Pichou's lodge. The old keeper
had gone that day to announce that n
small detachment of German infantry had
stopped ut his house the day before, about
in the afternoon, and had gone away
again almost directly. The subaltern in
command spoke French When the old
man went on such errands he took with
him his two dogs and left the two wom-
en-, adv! sing them to lock themselves into
the house as soon as night began to fall
The young one was afraid of nothing.
She was hanging her saucepans over the
lire to make the soup, when she stopped
short, listened to vague sound which had
reached her by way of the chimney, and
murmurcd. "There is some one walking in
the wood-seven or eight men at leastn
Her mother, alarmed, stopped her wheel
and muttcred: ooh, good Lord! And ia
thcr not herel''
She had not finished speaking when vio-
lent blows shook the door. The women
made made no answer and Il loud cultural
voice called out, "Open the door!" Then
after Il pause the same voice repeated,
Open the door or Ill break it imp
Then Berthine slipped into her pocket
the big revolver from over the mantelpiecc,
and having put her ear to the crack of the
door. asked, WHO are your"
The voice answered: 1--WE are the detach
ment that came the other day. Open the
door or we will break it in"
The keepers wife had no choice. She
promptly drew the great bolt, and, pulling
back the door she behold six Prussian
men, the same who had come the day be-
fore. She said in firm tone "What do
you want here at this time of nightf"
The officer replied: 81 had lost my way.
recognized the house. l have had moth
ing to eat since the morning, nor my men
either"
The keepers wife stepped back "Come
in" said She
They came in powdered with snow and
with a sort of messy cream on their he'll
NETS that made them look like merinpues.
''Sit down. said She land I'll make
you some soup. You do look quite worn
out"
Then she bolted the door again. She
poured some more water into her saucepan
and threw in more butter and potatoes:
then unlocking piece of bacon that hung
in the chimney, she cut off half and added
that also to the stew. The eyes of the six
men followed her every movement with nm
air of awakened hunger. They had set
their guns and helmets in corner. and
sat waiting on their benches like we'll be-
havcd school children. The mother had
begun to spin again, but she threw terri
fled glances at the invading soldiers.
There was no sound except the slight
purring of the wheel, the crackle of the
fire, and the bubbling of the water as it
grew hot.
But all at once strange noise made
them all start-something like n hoarse
breathing at the door, the breathing of an
ANIMAL deep and snorting One of the
Germans had sprung toward the guns.
Inc woman, with movement and a
smile, stopped him. ut is the wolves" said
she. They are like you; they are wander
ing about hungry" The man would hard
~ believe; he wanted to see for himself
and as soon as the door was opened he
perceived two great gray beasts making
oil at quick, long trot. He came back to
ms seat murmuring, II should not have
believed it,"
The men ate voraciously; their mouths
opened from ear to ear to take the largest
OF guips; their round eyes opened sympa-
thetically with their Jaws, and their swal-
lowing was like the gurgle of rain in n
water pipe. Then, us they were thirsty.
the Keepers wife went down into tho collnr