The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-06-24
DANGEROUS SITUATION.
An Americans Experience in the
FraucO-Prussian War.

An Americans Experience IN t1c
Frauco-Prussian War.
Twenty years ago. when the Prus-
SLAMS. like a ring of iron. drew their in
vinciblc army slowly around the fortiti-
cations Of Metz. J found myself IN q lit
tie French village that had inst been
taken possession Il bv tho Gcrmans. !
was correspondent for a Cincinnati pa
per during what the French persist in
calling the Franco-pIussian. and the
Germans persist in calling the Franco
German war.
\ low stone coping ran along the
road al the end of the village. and one
sunny day ! stood here leaning against
the wall. beside the sentry.
For several days only some slight
-lzirmi-he- had taken place between
the ty.o armies engaged at this point.
They were separated here hv q dimin-
utive valley. whose sides were covered
with that most delicious fruit for s.hich
this region Of the No-clic b. famous
bunchcz Of glowing autumn grapes.
Those grapes. as I gazc5 down upon
them tempted me yvon3crlai#r- J knew
the sentry beside ma. le Was huge
Pomcrauian. VINO, in the o-p- ..t- ef hi~
calling. had shaved re number oI
times Ia the capital of Prussia. E.t Gs
! expressed au inclination to descend
the hillside auI .ure some OF the
fruit. the sentry shook u head
Down there said he. ...n tEe midst
Of that thicizet Of trees and vines, the
place was Swaraiug with Ireu.hmcu
only too eager 10 get a shot II a man
laughed at his words. "Nlv. what
can you soc down there. AToritz." / said.
And. IN truth as we gazcd down. the
scene seemed peaceful cUau-h.
Two peasant women. IN gaulr COS
tunes. were gathering grapes iu little
baskets. Beyond. ON the other side of
the valley. ran q wall, upan which we
could catch glimpse OF the rcd trousers
of the French sentry lolling there.
After moments hesitation l lcaped
suddenly over the coping and ran light
" down the hill. Noritz cried the
words of q hasty warning after me, but
the sounds fell uuintelligibly upon my
ears. The two French peasant women
dropped their baskets, and ran hastily
away n the sight Of what they took to
be the approach OF one Of those dreaded
PrussianS.
In another moment my parchcd gums
were fcastinT upon those famous
grapes 4 beN were delicious can
taste them yet.
Ny pleasure was Of short duration.
From some close quarter a shot came
suddenly and tore away a bunch a few
inches from my outstrctched hand. ]
thought at first that this was a joke on
the part OF my friend, the sentry, and
was just turning about 10 protest
against such grim humor when another
Il, in ell eir1ri lint
fortunately without harming me.
The bright sun dazed rry faculties for
an instant. What should ] do? / could
not ascend that steep and unprotected
hill behind me and reach the stone cop
ing alive.
! plunged into the thicllet where prob
ably the very danger was lurking; and
vet II was Ely only refuge.
slipped carefully through the rows
of vines until 7 found myself in the
shelter Of the trees that covered the
bottom Of the valley. 4 little stream
ran past here, and the wood, though
small, was very dense.
What troubled me most was that the
cracking twigs ceaselessly betrayed
my footsteps. The whole ground was
covered with dead branches. I 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 l could not hear the slight
est noise of their presence.
As ! stood here, unmolestcd for n
time at least, ! began To speculate on
way out of this dilemma into which 1
had thoughtlessly wandered My eye
restlcsSly roamed from tree TO tree,
seeking i safe avenue for retreat. All
things were so still that I could hear a
faint rafting of musl1etry, so distant
that the fall of a leaf would have
drowned the sound borne on the trem-
bling wind.
OF n sudden a grumbling voice broke
upon my ears 50 close to me that il was
startling.
Ion est it donc?" inquired the grum-
bier, in a voice that was intended for
his companion only, but which reached
me distinctly, SO near were we 10 each
other.
The other answered, but his words
escaped me. They spoke together in
lowered tones as they stood there, and
from what l overheard, they seemed To
think that /, not being in uniform, was
spy trying to creep through the French
lines.
\ sudden great cracking Of the twigs
made me retreat TO the stream. and
covered the sound Of my progress
'Ah. / muttered to myself, there
come the two grape-piclers." ] thought
that the two Frenchmen were approach
ing to investigate nv position. but here,
instead, the noise was caused by the
heavy sabots OF the two peasant
women, who advanced, peering through
the trees, as if they were also seeking
the whereabouts of the fugitive Prus-
sian.
There was something odd in their ap-
pcarance, and, though ] could gain but
passing glimpse of them, made dis
covery.
The two women were carving musk