Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-05-13


my pursuers grew fainter. l had
proceeded some distance, and now,
lliF5ugA the thinning trees, | saw that
had come within shooting distance
Of the red-trowsorcd 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
bead and shoulders visible. OBJ
served them very distinctly; heard
tielI voices now and then, and the
lazy yawning Of the ono that lay in
the sunlight.
] Saw their chassepois cleaning in
the sun aud in such close proximity
they wore an ugly look.
was safe, however, as their at
tention was not attracted toward me,
and SO turned my thoughts to my
two pursuers 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 s:one coping, to which | longed TO
return, | saw, to my surprise, that the
two grope-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 tho
cover of their pretended employment
they were still slowly but surely ad-
yancing. | well perceived Their OBJ
jet.
Here was prcdicamen!, truly. The
sentinel, not possessed of an album
dance of wit, would let the two APP
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 rctribution would
be i Fun my own head, both from be-
<.Nsf 90 4nie $1,000.
Bat this was not alb At'thc pace
where stood in hiding the foliage
that sheltered the stream grew scarce
aud ended. Before inc 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
crouchiug there? Was there one who
could see me and was aiming at me
even now perhaps? Was the thickcI
full of soldiers who would rush forth
when the death-shot of the sentry
above should ring out?
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 a hand thai
waved a greeting.
1t was Moriiz, who, grown uneasy
at my non-appearance, had stolen
down to ferret out the cause.
Immense as was the figure of the
Pomeranian, yet lie concealed himself
very ably. noticed from his action;
that he guarded himelf only from the
view of the two sentries by the wall
seeming TO think that screened from
them he would be safe.
As lie crawled carefully out into the
open, therefore, | attracted his atten'
ton TO the two masculine females
who had gradually stolen close to tho
coping.
The Pomeranian knelt in the gras
and looked up. As he noted the two
figures and the intentions which theii
movements betrayed, his face became
transfixed with rage. So terrible wa
the wrath depicted upon it that wa
glad TO see it turned towards other
than myself.
One of those figures mp there, il
his gaudy costume, had already
reached the coping and with his chas
scpot to his shoulder ready for firing
peered stealihily over the stone wal
to locate the sentry.
At this act and those costumes O.
duplicity, tho large Pomeranian, re
CARELESS of all consequences, leapet
from the earth and fairly beloved
with rage. 1t seemed 10 infuriatc hin
beyond reason that those two rogue
above should have thus deceived him
A sudden flash from his gun thor
oughly annihilatcd the disguised sol
dier at the coping.
Swinging his gun like a club AM
roaring with fury, he ran up the hill
side toward the other. Somehow hi
actions aroused me 10 like fury, an
we both tore madly up the hill towar'
the skirted soldier who, turning
seemed struck as if by ihunderbol
at our sudden approach.
The shot of Moritz had sent til
echoes reverberating among the hills
The French outposts lcaped up, as
electrified, from their sunny wall in
Vulnerable others started up from til
surrounding thickets. A rain of bu
let's fairly peppcrcd the grassy slope
But our sudden on-rush had carrie
US in advance of this hail.