Birmingham state herald., 1896-10-25

battalion of SaXonS Tn nanusoIne, p't sorey battered mansion on the German siege line on the east side of Paris, flght opposite to Mount Avron, over Whose summit lowered the sullen face and me nacng embrasures of Fort Rosny. lhete were shell holes in the roof ot our chateau, in it's walls and in the fine par uuet floor of the fine drawing room or the Saxon officers, the furniture Of Whlch was in curiously fragmentary condltloh' A shell had burst in the grand piano. ana had wrought utter havoc among the keys, hammers and strings of the instrument The place was faVorite target TOT the guns of Avron and Rosny, ana we may De said to have lived under almost cohstah' fire. .. - shell burst in an upper room, just as Under Officer Schultz entered to make report to the major. Schultz LOOK three measured steps from the door With ac- curately pointed toes halted smarliy' bringing his heels together with a sharp click, and stood before his commanding officer motionless, stlff ana seNereiy erect
 What is it, Schultz?" asked the ma1or'
 "Please you Herr Major" replied the under officer, stiffly, Corporal ZlmmeI- man reports that in the gap oI the paIk wall of the Schloss Launay, Soldier Claus Spreckels of Captain Hammersteln s com pany was killed by a shot fired from the little house by the gate. That makes the seventh man killed this week py the French pigdog who lurkS lhele anu hSHSA misses a chance.
 "Pig-dog, indeed" exclaimed the ma for angriIy He takes every chance, as you say, and never gives one. Have the dead Spreckles buried according 10 iolih' You may go, Under Officer Schultz!
 "At your order, Herr Major, sald the under officer with salute, ana then went right about as if he were piece ot mechanism, took his three measured steps to the door and disappeared
 Soldier Claus Spreckles' body lay on the doorsteps where 1t had been deposited while his grave was being dug. He would be the most recent, but the region round us was one great graveyard of recent dead-the slain of the desperate hgntlhg 10 Ducrots great sortie, which lasted without interruption from November So to December 3.
 That villain will decimate the battal- lion," growled the major, as he took long drink of the lager beer of which ms wife had sent him barrel from Saxony as a Christmas love gift. And how to mend matters beats mel" he added' de- spairngly.
 Then impulsive Captain Kirchbach broke out: Let us rush the internal hut major, and burn it down; that will de stroy the fellows cover. l volunteer to lead the party. Why not tonightY'
 Tt must not be as you propose, kirch- bach" said the major. You know that the French foreport line moves forward beyond the hut with nightfall and that mot half a rifle shot to the rear is brig ade of the red legs in Vilemomble. Wed risk all that cheerfully, but as you know, I have strict orders against bringing on fighting now while the pioneers are build ing the batteries for the seize behind us wonder in front of Madison Guyot."
 And yet" said little Hammerste1n, it is horrible pity that all our good fel- lows should be murdered thus
 Fortune of war" cried Helldorf the reckless. ''If you are to be bowled over, as well in patrol as in the melee at Gravelotte. Spreckls' turn today, mine, perhaps, tomorrow The Frenchman does not respect officers the least in the world-you remember how he picked orr Lieutenant Won Ernshausen?"
 Permit me the word, Herr Major,' were the bashful words that came from the yongster in the light blue cavalry uniform who was standing near the door, The mustache had not budded on his lip, but there was a quiet resolution in the aspect of him which gave assurance that he was equal to mans part. The young Baron Steinfurt- Wallenstein was the cor net in command of the detachment or Saxon troops doing orderly duty with Schonberg's battalion.
 Well baron, are you going to offer to cut the fellow out with your galloping sergeant's party?" asked the major in a rather bantering tone.
 "I think, major" answered the young caVaryman, my fellows would snatch at the chance if you gave 1t to them. But, of course, that is out of the question. Yet, sir, if you will allow me, should much like to try whether, with good fortune may not stop this fellows devilery. They reckon me the best shot with the sporting rifle in our part of the Saxon Switzerland, and have my favorite weapon here With me. What l want to do is to go and stalk this French sharpshooter May l?
 You may try your luck and welcome, baron, for me-" said the major. Mind, unless you bring good evidence back with you, we shant believe you've wiped him out"
 l,,,,, ha l,I1tt of a good deal of bandiage that evening. But he took the chaff with modest se- renity, ate hearty dinner and said good night early. 1 found him in his quarters above the stable. overhauling his rifle and filling pendoleer with cartridges. He readily consented that l should accom- pany him, which l was anxious to do, from curiosity. Of course, as a neutral, l was to go unarmed.
 Early next morning we breakfasted to- gether filled our flasks, put some And- wiches into our haversacks and while 1t was yet dark passed the outposts and climbed the gradual slope on the crest of which, among the old trees, stood the Chateau De Launay. The baron had the bearings of the cottage, to the watching of which we were to devote ourselves, and instead of heading directly upon it, with the result that our hiding place would be directly in the French marksman's line of sight, we edged away somewhat to our right, with the intent of locating our selves somewhere on the left point of the cottage. At a distance of about 800 yards we were close to a clump of evergreens in the grounds of the villa of Nelaton, the famous surgeon.
 In the heart of this clump, where there was comparatively little snow, we lay down. l a little behind the baron, who waited patiently till dawn, and then gin gerly twisted and broke the twigs of holly till he had clear vista of aim on the cot tage, now dimly visible through the frost haze. It's OCCuDant, we judged. was cook ing his breakfast, for smoke was laZily issuing from the chimney. Then the sun chased away the haze, and the baron caught a glimpse of the dull gleam of rifle barrel back in the room inside the wide orifice where in peace time there had been window frame.
 His impulse was to aim a trifle behind the gllnt and then fire, but he restrained himself, for 1t was probable that he would not get many chances. so crafty was the Frenchman and he was bound. in the