The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-08-05
ssWhere do you expect +, dnd their

"where do you expect t, dnd their
f0od?"
ssWhere? Why here. Do not the
vanquished feed the vanquishers?"
Understanding my gesture of doubt,
he continued, sab, you have not
much confidence in their larder, have
you? The fact may be that the To-
cality is a little bare, but true
Frenchman never despairs. Provided
his general distributes to him his
share of glory, it is for him to pro-
cure something to eat At the time
when was gathering IN the garden
those dry leaves to make you a bed Of
eider-down l perceived some little
heaps in a corner. They suggest po-
tatoes I dug into them with my
steel, and exposed to the light of day
some twenty of these virtuous tubers.
The whole brood are under the ashes
there, and ought to be Already
cooked. We will, in consequence,
proceed to feast. Ohe. master of the
hotel, quickly say grace and serve up
hot"
As he repeated this army phrase in
tie tone of a master of ceremonies,
the trumpeter Grew forth one after
another from underneath the Goals
the smoking potatoes, and ranged
them symmetrically upon the hearth.
had eaten nothing since morning.
The savory Odor awaked my hunger.
made an effort to sit up, and was
about to partake Of the supper i'm
provised by the trumpeter when I
saw him all at once lift his head and
listen.
what is it," 1 asked.
He imposed silence by a gesture,
rose quickly, caught up his gun
which he had placed against the wall
and advanced rapidly toward the
door.
At this moment I, in my turn, dis
tinguIshed the sound of steps outside.
Suddenly they became silent, as if
the person were approaching with dis
trust. At last, however, they paused
at the threshold. There was an in
terval, then hand lifted gently the
straw which closed the entrance; a
man dressed in the costume OF the
country appeared at the opening: he
looked within and made a step for
ward.
The trumpeter's gun was at his
shoulder and arrested him promptly.
He recOiled with cry
make one movement and you are
dead" said the soldier.
The German clasped his hands and
stammered forth prayer for quarter.
80 not f1rew l cried to my COM
panion. HE asks for mercy"
Il understand tnat," replied the
trumpeter; shut it. is necessary to
know what brings him bither."
LET him approach; will talk
with him." 1 said.
$50 you know German? Bravo!
Then we are going to have some pratt
tie. Come, deliver Yourself up, mein
herr, to this person you see here who
speaks your savage language! Ask
him who he is, whence he come, what
he wants. and if possible, procure
some butter for our potatoes
Thus speaking. he forced the Ger
man to advance toward me.
When the stranger perceived that
I was wounded he expressed much
compassion and asked over and over
where l was hurt, if I was in pain.
whether would not be able to gain
the French encampment. The last
question led me to believe that the
Prussians had retreated all along
their line. The trumpeter, to whom
I impaired this good news, cried "Long
live the emperor" and presented arms.
The German stated also that he had
quilted the burning hamlet the
same morning. and that the only
house remaining, the one in which
we found ourselves. was his. AS to
the reason Of his coming here in the
midst of so much danger and at such
an hour, he appeared embarrassed to
explain it and became involved in
confused statements.
However, my companion appeared
to rest contented with the information
given, and invited him, with sort
of soldierly cOrdiality, to approach
the fire.
1--WE have a little broken up the
barrack," added he, ''but that was
four fault. You should have left the
key to your wood-Shed."
The German excused himself say
ing that all had been consumed by
the Prussians, who occupied the vii
lage. 1t was with difficulty that he
had been able to transport some fur
niture and other effects which had es-
capped pillage to the house of relative
who dwelt at some distance, and who
had consented to receive his family.
Eyes, yes" said the trumpeter,
lone knows that. In the time Of the
republic the Austrians came thus
into France; they were Quartered in
our village, and my mother tells what
the poor people had to undergo. War
is good enough for the soldier: he re-
turns the blows he receives; but the
home dweller is always the sufferer,