Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-15
RODE LIKE MAN WHO WAS HEAVY WITH THOUGH

stood with his candle, looking here and
peeping there, rurring in his throat like
cat before a milkpail. He had pitched upon
a Burgundy at last, and had his hand out
stretched to the bottle, when there came a
roar of musketry from above us, a rush of
feet and such yelping and a screaming as
have never listened to. The Prussians were
upon us.
Bouvet Is brave mani will say that
for him. He flashed out his sword, and
away he clattered up the stone steps, his
spurs clinking as he ran. / followed him,
but just came out into the kitchen
passage a tremendous shout told us that
the house had been recaptured.
'It is all over" l cried, grasping at Bou-
vets sleeve.
There is one more to die" he shouted
and away he went like mailman up the
second stair. In effect l should have gone
to my death also had / been in his place
for he had done very wrong in not throw
ing out his scouts to warn him If the Ger
l was about to rush up with him, and then
/ bethought myself that, after all, / had
my own mission to think of, and that If
were taken the important letter of the en-
peror would be sacrificed. / let Bouvet die
alone, therefore, and l went down into the
cellar again. closing the door behind me.
Well 1t was not very rosy prospect
down there, either. Bouyet had dropped
the candle when the alarm came, and l.
paving about in the darkness, could find
nothing but broken bottles. At last
came upon the candle, which had rolled
under the curve of a cask, but try as I
would with my finder box could not light
1t. The reason was that the wick had been
wet in puddle of wine, 50, suSpecting that
this might be the case t cuts the end off
with my sword. Then found that 1t light
ed easily enough. But what to do I could
not imagine. The scoundrels upstairs were
shouting themselves hoarse several hun
dred OF them from the sound and it was
clear that some of them would soon want
to moisten their throatsN There would be
end of dashing soldier and of the mis-
sion and of the medal. l thought of my
mother and / thought Of the emperor 1t
made me weep to think that the one would
lose so excellent a son and the other the
best light cavalry officer he ever had since
La Sales time. But presently 1 dashed the
tears from my eyes. "Courager 1 cried
striking myself upon the chest. Courage
my brave boy! Is it possible that one who
has come safely from Moscow without so
much as a frost bite will die in a French
wine cellar?" At the thought / was up on.
my feet and clutching at the letter in my
tunic, for the crackle of it gave me cour-
age.
Ny first plan was to set fire to the house.
in the hope of escaping in the confusion.
My second to get into an empty wine caSk
l was looking round to see If I could find
one when suddenly In the corner espied a
little, low door, painted of the same gray
color as the wall, so that it was only man
with quick sight who would have noticed
it. pushed against it and at first / imag-
ined that it was locked. Presently, how
ever, 1t gave a little, and then 1 under
stood that it was held by the pressure of
something upon the other side. / put my
feet against a hogshead of wine and gave
such a push that the door flew open and L