Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-12-24

The soldiers had finished eating and were
falling asleep, all six, around the table.
From time TO time head would fall heav.
lily on the board, when the man, starting
awake, would sit up. Berthine said to the
officer; you may just as well lie down
here before the fire. There's plenty OF
room for six. Pm going up TO my room
with my mother"
The two women went to the upper floor.
The Prussians stretched themselves on the
stone floor, their feet to the fire, their
heada on the rolled up cloaks, and soon all
six were snoring. They had certainly been
asleep for n considerable time when a shot
sounded, and so loud that it seemed to be
fired close against the walls Of the house.
The soldiers sat up instantly. There were
two more shots, and then three more.
The door Of the staircase opened hastily,
and the keepers wife appeared, barefooted,
q short petticoat over her nightdress, a
candle in her hand, and face of terror.
She whispered: Here are the French-2O0
OF them at least. II they find you here
they will burn the house. Go down, quick,
into the cellar, and don't make Il noise. II
you make noise We are lost" The Off
Ger, scared, murmured: II will; / will
Which way do we go DOWN.
The young woman hurriedly raised the
narrow square trapdoor and the men dis
appeared by the winding stair, one after
another going underground backwards,
so az to feel the steps with their feet. But
when the point of the last helmet had dis
appeared Berthine shutting down til,
heavy oaken plank. thick as a wall ant
hard Ms steel kept in place by clamps an,
paddock, turned the key twice slowly,
and then began to laugh with laugh of
silent rapture and with a wild desire TO
dance over the heads of her prisoners
Betthine at once relighted her fire, put
on her saucepan once more, and made more
soup, murmuring, Father viii be tired
tonight" Then she sat down and waited.
distant barking reached her. She began
10 whistle like a huntsman, and almost
Immediately two immense dogs doomed
through the shadows and jumped upon
her with signs Of JOY. She held them by
the neck To keep them from running away
and called with all her might, Hello, ia
theFp'
A voice still very distant answered, Hal
ioa, Berthinew
She waited some moments, then called
again, Hello, father, Don't pass in front
Of the grating; there are Prussians in the
cellar"
All at once the black outline of the man
showed on the left. He asked uneasily.
"Prussans In the cellar. What are they
doing thereY"
The young woman began to laugh. II
put them in the cellar to keep cool" And
she related the whole adventure-how she
had frightened them with shots of the re-
volver and shut them up in the cellar.
The old man asked, What do you ex-
peet me to do with them at this time of
night"
She answered: Go and fetch NJ. Lavigne
and his men He'll take them prisoners,
and won't he be pleasedP'
A quarter of an hour later Pichou started
again. Berthine, with her head in her
hands, waited
The prisoners were moving about. They
shouted and called, and beat continually
with their guns on the immovable trap
door Of the cellar. Then they began to FIRE
their guns through the grating, hoping no
doubt, to be heard il any German detach-
ment were passing in the neighborhood.
The Keepers wife did not stir, but all this
noise tried her nerves and irritated her.
An evil anger swoke in her; she would have
liked to kill them, the wretches, to Keep
them quiet. Then, as her Impotence in.
creased, she began to look at the clock and
count the minutes. At last the hands
marked the time which she bad fixed for
their coming.
She opened the door once more to listen
for them. She perceived shadow moving
cautiously. She WAS frightened and
screamed. IL was her father. He said,
They sent me to see IL there's any
change"
mo, nothing"
Then be Ia his turn gave a long, strident
whistle into the darkness.
NJ Lavigne, trembling with excitement,
appeared with his men and posted them ~
a. to surround the house on all sides. He
stamped his foot on the trap door and
called, "Mr. Prussian oficerr The Ger
man did not reply.
The major repeated, Mr.. Prussian off
cerr' II was in vain. For whole twenty
minutes be summoned this silent officer TO
capitulate with arms and baggage, prom
ising him life and military honors for him
self and soldiers But he obtained no sign
OF consent or Of hostility. The situation
was becoming difficult.
Major Lavigne appeared upon the thresh
old of the keepers lodge. He had inst
framed his plan of attack, and gave his
word Of command in ringing voice:
Plumber Planchet and his men. Unfas
ten the cutters of the housew
In n quarter OF an hour some twenty
yards Of leaden gutter pipe were brought
to the major. Then. with innumerabie
prudent precautions, he had little round
hole bored in the edge Of the trapdoor,
and having laid out an aqueduct from the
pump to this opening, announced with an
air Of satisfaction, I'VE are going TO give
these German gentlemen something to
drink \ wild cheer Of admiration burst
forth followed by shouts of delight and
roars of laughter. The major organized
gangs Of workers, who were 10 be employed
In relays Of five minutes. Then he com
manded, "Pumpr'
And the iron handle having been put in
motion little sound rustled along the
pipes and slipped into the cellar, falling
from step TO step with the tinkle of a wa
terfall An hour passed. then two, then
three
The enemy was moving now. Sounds of
rattling, Of speaking, of splashing could be
haar1 TIat. - L..