The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-21
CHAPTER III.

BY midday I had got as far as the VII
lage OF Saaifeidt. but as / was on the d.
rect road for Osterode. where the emperor
was wintering. and also for the main camp
of the seven divisions of infantry, the
highway was choked with carriages and
carts. What with artillery, caissons and
wagons and couriers and the ever-thicken-
ing stream of recruits and stragglers. ii
seemed 10 me that II would be a very long
time before should join my comrades.
The plains however. were five feet deep
I'm snow. so there was nothing for it but
10 piod upon our way. II was with 10Y,
therefore, that found a second road that
branched away from the other. trending
through a fir wood towards the north.
There was n small auberge a the cross
roads. and a patrol OF the Third Hussars
OF Connans-the very regiment Of which
/ was afterward colonel-were mounting
their horses at the door. On the steps
stood their officer, a slight, pale. young
man. who looked more like young priest
from a seminary than the leader OF the
devil-may-care rascals before him.
Good day. sir" said he, seeing that
pulled up my horse
Good day" I answered. 'T am Lieut..
Etienne Gerard, OF the Tenth"
could see by his face that he had heard
OF me. Everybody had heard OF me since
nv duel with the six fencing masters. Ny
manner. however. served 10 put him at his
case with me.
II am Sub.-Lieut. Duroc. OF the Third"
said he.
Newly jolncd?' I asked.
last week"
had thought as much from his white
face and from the way in which he let
men lounge upon their horses. II was not
so long however since I had learned my
self what II is like when a schoolboy has
10 give orders to veteran troopers II made
me blush. I remember. to shout abrupt
commands 20 men who had seen more bat
ties than I had years and Il should have
come more natural to me TO say. With
your permission we viii now wheel into
line" or IF you think best we shall trot.
I ala not think the less OF the lad, there
fore. when l observed that his men were
somewhat ont OF hand. but / gave them
glance which stiffened them IN thelF sad
dies.
"May ask. monsieur whether YOU are
syoinr by this northern rosdT' asked.
..My orders are 10 patrol IL as far as
Arensdorf." he said.
..Then will with your permission. ride
so far with you" said I; 1T Is very clear
and the longer way VIII be the faster"
So II proved. for this road led away from
the army into a country which was given
o,,er 70 CosSacks and narauders. and Il
was as bare as the other was crowded
Dfroc and 1 rode IN front. With our SIX
t~oooor-s Gathering along in the rear. Fie
y,as :. GOOD boy. this Duroc with his head
<,,u ~ nonsense that they teach at St
60 knowing more about Alexander and
ysorrrsv than how % mix a horses fodder
or care for a horses feet. StiN he was. As
7 have said. a cood boy. unspoiled as Yet
hv the csmp. u pleased me 70 hear hiTn
nrattle away about his sister Marie ana
ahout his mother IN Am.ens- Presently
-, soanfs ourselves at the village OF Hay-
s0ah. Duroc rode Up 20 the posthouse ard
asked 20 see the master.
Ca ven tell me-" said he. whether
nan who calls himself Baron StraueenthaI
lives IN these parts
Tba postmaster shook his head and Ne
rode upon our way
t,,k NJ, notice OF this. but when at tie
,.ert village my couraae repeated the
eva question, with Tire same result, l
,>c,,la not help asking him who iris Baron
straueenthal might be
..tgs 80 a man said puroc. with sud
49,, e,sh ,spon his hoyish face, 80 whom
- very important message % con
vev." A.. -.
- ssnaethsnz in my compan3oa's manner
,..rt,p tod ne shat suy further question
- ,,-,nls Re tiis,astefal 70 him. SAID
- - ,v.>-e therefore. bat Duroc would
80 ask every peasant whom We met
t@.n~v l,e could give him any news q TIE
T1arau SsrAuboathai.
E>,r nv own part was eE'tiea x. IS
- ,eiesr 81 light cavalry should, % 9"t' q
-, ises OF the law % TIRE country 90 -'-,ss
the course Of the streams ana &c '.l~. = -
nlsoes where there should es foF4s' livery