The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-08
Copyright 1901 oy Irving Bach ,llsr.l
CHAPTER II.

4 CHAPTER II.
BY midday had got as far as the vii
lage of Saq3feldt. but a. was on tas
direct road fQR (sterode. where the EN-
peror was whining. and also for the
main camp OF q seven divisions of in
\ iantry. the high Eay was choked with
>cArria es- and q ts. What with artil-
iery. 0sissons ar wagons and couriers
and the ever-thkkening stream of re-
cruits and straaElers. It seemed to me
that II would hk a very long time be-
fore / should join my comrads. The
plains. however. were five feet deep IN
SHOW. so there was nothing for it but to
plod upon our way. 1t was with JOY.
therefore. that found second road
which b-anched away from the other,
trending through fir wood toward the
north. There was small auberge at
the cross roads and q patrol OF the
Third Hussars Of Conflans-the very
regiment OF which l was afterwa:d
colcnei-were mounting their horses at
the door. On the steps stood their o!ii-
Ger. a slight, pale young man. who
locked like young priest from SEM
inaiy than al eader Of the devil-may-
care rascals before him.
Good day. sir" said he. seeing that l
pulled up my horse.
''Go6d day" answered. II am Lieu
tenant Etienne Gerard Of the Tenth
could see by his face that he had
heard Of me. Everybody had heard OF
me since my duel with the six fencing
masters. My manner, however, served
10 put him at his ease with me.
II am Sub Lieutenant Duroc of the
Third" said he.
''Newly joined?" / 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 30 hong. however since l had
learned myself what it is like when u
Ochoolboy has to give orders to vet
erAn troopers. 1t made me blush, |
remember. to shout abrupt commands
TO men who had seen more battles than
had years, and 1t should have come
more natural for me to say with your
permission we will now wheel into
line" or If you think 1t best. we shall
trot." / did not think the less OF the
bad. therefore. when observed that
his men were somewhat out of hand,
but ] gave them a glance wich stiffened
chem In their saddles.
May / ask, monsieur, whether you
are going by this northern road?"
asked
Arepsdorf." said he.
Then I will, with your permission,
ride 80 far with you" said I; ut is
very clear and the lo9Apr way will be
the faster" =.
SO II proved. for this road led away
from the army into a country which
was given over to Cossacks and marau-
ders, and II was as bare as the other
was crowded. Duroc and l rode in
front with our six troopers Gathering
along in the rear. He was a good boy,
this Duroc, with his head full of the
nonsense that they teach at st. Cyr,
knowing more about Alexander and
Pompey than how to mix horses fod-
der or care for horses feet Still he
was. as I have said, good boy, un-
spoiled as yet by the camp. 1t pleased
me to hear him prattle away about his
sister Marie and about his mother in
Amiens. Presently we found ourselves
at the village of Hayenah. Duroc rode
up to the post house and asked to see
the master.
Can you tell me-" said he. whether
. man who calls himself Baron Strau-
6enthal lives In these parts?"
The postmaster shook his head and
we rode upon our way.
] took no notice Of this. but when at
The next village my oomrade repeated
the same question, with the same re-
suit, could not help asking him who
this Baron Straubenthal might be.
HE IL man." said DurOc, with a
sudden flush upon his boyish face, "to
whom I have very important mes
sage to convey"
Well, this was not satisfactory, bu,
There was something in my companion's
mannef which told me that any fur
Rher questioning would be distastefu
10 him. said nothing more, therefore
but Duroc would still ask every peasant
whom we met whether he could give
him any news Of the Baron Strauben.
2hal.
For my own part was endeavorine
~ an officer Of light cavalry should. tc
form an idea Of the lay Of the country
10 note the course of the streams and
10 mark the places where there should
be fords. Every step was taking u:
y further from the camp round the flank.
Of which we were travelling. Far tt
the south few plumes of gray smok,
In the frosty air marked the position OF
some Of our outposts. To the north
however, there was nothing between
ourselves and the Russian winter quar-
tiers. Twice on the extreme horizon
and pointed 1t out to my companion
caught glimpse Of glitter Of steel
II was too distant for US to tell whenc'
Il came, but we had little doubt that !
was from the lanceheads of maraudint
Cospacks.
The Sun was just setting when W.
rode over low hill and saw small
village upon our light and on our lief
considespble castle which jutted ou
from among the pine woods.
Afarmer with his cart was approach
Save
" - Rabies