The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-06-16


seemed to think that l, not being in
uniform, was a spy trying to creep
through the French lines.
A sudden cracking of the twigs
made me retreat to the stream, and
covered the sound Of my progress.
"Ah," l muttered to myself, "there
come the two grape-pickers." L
thought that the two Frenchmen were
approaching to investigate my posi-
ton, but here, instead, the noise was
caused by the heavy sabots OF the two
peasant women. who advanced, peer
ing through the trees. as if they were
also seeking the whereabouts of the
fugitive Prussian.
There was something odd in their
appearance, and, though | could gain
but passing glimpse of them, made
discovery.
The two women were carrying mus
kets in their handsl
Those, indeed, were masculine forms
and faces. And their voicesl Fool
that was, not to have recognized
them before.
l retreated softly and quickly, half
along the sandy bed of the stream, half
along the white stones that lay in the
shallow water. Thus threaded the
bed Of the stream until the voices of
my pursuers grew fainter. / had
proceeded some distance, and now,
through the thinning trees, ] saw that
1 had come within shooting distance
of the -trowsered sentinel lying
upon the wall, summing himself.
There were, in fact, two sentries
there; one lolling upon the wall and
the other leaning against it with but
head and shoulders visible. l OBJ
served them very distinctly; l heard
their voices now and then, and the
lazy yawning Of the ono that lay in
the sunlight.
l saw their chassepots cleaning in
the sun and in such close proximity
they wore an ugly look.
l was safe, however, as their at
tention was not attracted toward me,
and so turned my thoughts to my
two pursucrs again. ! had heard them
hunting and cursing for while far
in my rear, but now all noise of them
had died away.
Happening to turn my glance up to
the stone coping, to which l longed to
return, saw, to my surprise, that the
two grape-pickers had given up my
pursuit and were engaged in their for
mer occupation again. But now they
were much nearer to the coping than
they had been before, and under the
cover of their pretended employment
they were still slowly but surely ad-
vancing. l we'll perceived ther OBJ
ject.
Here was predicament, truly. The
sentinel, not possessed of an abun-
dance of wit, would let the two ap-
proach unchallenged, until they were
near enough to turn suddenly and
shoot him with their hidden weapons;
and yet were to attempt to warn
him, swift and sure retrlbution would
be upon my own head, both from be-
fore and behind me.
But this was not all. AT the place
where stood in hiding the foliage
that sheltered the stream grew scarce
and ended. Before me was wide
plot of unprotected turf.
On the other side of this open space
the thicket there began to stealthily
be stirred. / saw the tops OF the
bushes nod. What other foe lay
crouching therep Was there one who
could see me and was aiming at me
even now perhaps9 Was the thicket
full of soldiers who would rush forth
when the death-shot of the sentry
above should ring outp
This train of nervous fancies, how
ever, was not interrupted. Rising
carefully from the midst OF the bushes
l saw well-known pointed helmet.
A head rose, too, and hand that
waved a greeting.
1t was Moritz, who, grown uneasy
at my non-appearance, had stolen
down to ferret out the cause.
Immense as was the figure of the
Pomeranian, yet he concealed himself
very ably. Noticed from his actions
that he guarded himelf only from the