The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-03-27

mirror, it was favorite mess joke for
the subalterns to trim their mustaches
AS soldier he was slow, but reliable
and brave The colonel could trust
him where a more dashing officer
might be in danger.
''You will proceed to Chateau Noir
tonight, captain" said he. "A guide
has been provided. You will arrest
the count and bring him back. If there
is any attempt at rescue, shoot him at
once"
"How many men shall 1 take.
coloneif"
"Wefi, we are surrounded by spies,
and our only chance is to pounce upon
him before he knows that we are upon
the way. large force will attract at
tention. On the other hand, you must
not risk being cut off,"
81 might march north, colonel, as II
to Join Gen. Goeben. Then | could
turn down this road which see upon
your map, and get to Chateau Noir be-
fore they could hear of us. In that
case with twenty men"
Every good, captain. I hope to see
you with your prisoner tomorrow
morning"
1t was cold December night when
Capt Baumgarten marched out of Les
Andelys with his twenty Poseners and
took the main road to the northwest.
Two miles out he turned suddenly
down narrow, deeply-rutted track
and made swiftly for his man. A thin,
cold rain was falling, swishing among
/ the tall poplar trees and rustling in the
fields on either side. The captain
walked first with Moser, veteran SER
geant, beside him. The sergeants
wrist was fastend to that of the French
peasant, and it had been whispered in
his ear that in case of the ambush the
first bullet fred would be through his
head. Behind them the twenty infan-
trymen plodded along through the
darkness with their faces sunk to the
rain and their boots squeaking in the
SOFT wet clay. They knew where they
were going, and why, and the thought
upheld them, for they were bitter al
the loss of their comrades. 1t was q
cavalry job, they knew, but the cavalry
were all on with the advance, and be-
sides, it was more fitting that the regi
ment should avenge its own dead mon
1t was nearly eight when they left
Les Andelys. At half-past eleven theil
guide stopped at place where two
| nigh pillars crowned with some her
aldic stone work, fanked huge iron
gate. The walls in which it had been
| the opening had crumbled away, but
the great gate still lowered above the
brambles and weeds which had over
grown it's base. The Prussians made
their way round it, and advanced
stealthily under the shadow of a black
tunnel of oak branches up the long
avenue which was still numbered by
the leaves of last autumn. At the tor
they halted and reconnoitred.
The black chateau lay in front OF
them. The moon had shone out be
tween two rain clouds. and threw the
old house into silver and shadow. II
was shaped like an l., with a low
arched door in front, and lines of small
windows like the open ports OF man
of-war. Above was dark roof break
ing at the corners into little rounc
overhanging turrets, the whole lying
silent in the moonshine with drift o.
ragged clouds blackening the heavens
behind it. A single light CLEANED il
one of the lower windows.
The captain whispered his orders t.
his men. Some were to creep to the
front door, some to the back. Some
were to watch the east and some tho
west He and the sergeant stole OF
tiptoe to the lighted window.
II was a small room into which they
looked, very meanly furnished. Al
elderly man in the dress of menia
was reading a tattered paper by the
light of sputtering candle. lie leaned
back in his wooden chair, with his fee
upon hoy, while bottle of whit