St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-02-18

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trampling of horses hoofs and the rattle
of accoutrements fell on my ear.
'Douay's rear guard l thought, they
will tell me the way But the next
moment heard voices, and from the
shadow of wood emerged squadron OF
Uhlans. They were chanting hymn,
the words of which brought wildly to
my mind the Roman gladiators' last
greeting to the Emperor before they
joined in mortal combat, Ave! Caesar
morituri te salutant Hail, Cesar! the
dying salute thee.
''The refrain of the hymn, as well as !
can remember, ran thus:
'Oh, sun so red oh sun so red
Light me to a warriors bed.
Yestrecn mounted, lance in rest,
To-day bullet through the breast,
Morrow in the cold, cold ground,
For God and Fatherlandr
II waited until the party came up.
"'Who are you, and what are YOU do
ing here3' asked an under officer, riding
forward.
II told him.
az don't believe a word you have
said, answered the man stcrnly. we
have Just come from Vouzicrs, and
can assure you there was not Red
Cross ambulance in the place. You are
a spy
"Against this imputation I warmly
protested, pointed to my uniform, and
produced my case of instruments.
"A uniform is nothing. ANYBODY
can have a case of instruments. Where's
your pass!'
unfortunately had left it at my
headquarters, and the only proofs of my
identity and good faith which I could
show were my card case and few letters
from friends at Geneva
"Letters are nothing. Anybody may
have letters. 1t is clear case. You
are spy, disguised as an officer of the
international Ambulance
"Just then lieutenant came up and
demanded an explanation.
The under officer explained.
"'As you say, u clear case, replied the
lieutenant. Let the fellow be shot
against this summary justice l pro-
t11stea with viii all the energy of man who
You may save your UIes,,,. .o;d
the lieutenant. You are found here
under suspicious circumstances, and
without pass. AS likely as not you are
a franc tireur in disguise. You speak
German with a French accent. Shoot
him, sergeant
And shot | should have been to
dead certainty if another officer of higher
rank had not arrived in the very nick of
time. He also demanded an explanation,
which was Of course promptly given.
Then he questioned me closely, asking,
among otherthings, where had received
my medical education.
I" AT the Medical School of Geneva
and the University of Warsburg.'
"'Then you know Professor Goer
ingl'
II did know Professor Goering, and |
several facts which led nv
questloner to believe that the account T |
gave of myself was probably true, but he
SAID that until could furnish proofs of
my identity and good faith it would be
his duty to dctain me as q prisoner on
parole, which, l need hardly observe. |
gave with great alacrty.
"Ihe officer who saved my life was
Baron Hermann Won Hohenstein.
"Three days afterwards WAS fought the
lattlc of Sedan, which gave the coup de
grace to France and established the unity
If Germany. On the morrow of the fight,
hanks to my new found friend, was
to help the German surgeons in
heir arduous work, and my ability in
his regard being accepted as proof of
ny good faith, was set at liberty More
'ver, the chief of the medical staff
ffered me a position as supernumerary
taft surgeon, an offer which | gladly ac-
opted, and accompanied Baron Won Ho-
ensteln to Paris, there to take part in
he siege.
"And now, Hermann, I think Tmay !
cave you to tell the sequel =.
II will try" said the Baron, knocking
lie ashes out of his pipe Il will try, j..
nd all the more willingly as it can be =
I'D quickly. like not much speaking. =
"But must first of all tell you that :
ictor is too modest. He has omitted a
ater;al part of his story. He obtained
IS liberty and his appointment less be-
use OF what he did after the battle |
an of what he did during the battle.
e, prisoner on parole and accused OF n
ing spy, risked his life to save that h
his captors. He dressed the wounds a
my dear old friend, General Won Elsen- h
UNI under fire, there being no other 81
rgeon at liberty, and helped to carry CT
m out of action. For that brave deed f
received the personal thanks of the al
ng and Won Moltke. He showed more d
urage that day than many fighting k
iccr who won the Iron Cross. d
"Well as he has told you, we went to- W
Their to Paris, lived in the same quar- m
:, and becar c fast friends, and shall te
main friends as long as both d. live. &C
was hard winter, and We had rough ST.