The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-09-04

Wnlcn respect snow my good taste
and my breeding. remember, for sx-
ample, that when they were selling tho
plumber after the fall of Danzig,
bought very fine picture called
"Nymphs Surprised in Wood" and I
carried it with mo through two cam
paigns until my charger had the mis-.
fortune to put his hoof through it.
l only tell you this, however, to show
you that l was never a mere rough SOL
dier like Rapp or Lefebvre. AS l lay
in that brigands' camp had little time
tiers. They had thrown me down UNI
der q tree, the three villains squatting
round and smoking their cigarettes
within hands touch of me. What to
do could not imagine. In my whole
career do not suppose that have ten
times been in as hopeless situation.
"But courage" thought I, Courage,
my brave boy, you were not made
colonel of hussars at twenty-cight be-
cause you could dance cotillon. You
are picked man, Etienne, man who
has come through more than two hum
bred affairs and this little one is surely
not going to be tho last" l began
eagerly to glance about for some
chance Of escape, and as did so l saw
something which filled me with great
establishment.
have already told you that large
fire was burning in the center of the
glade. What with it's glare and what
with its moonlight everything was us
clear as possible. On the other side Of
the glade there was q single tall fir tree
which attracted my attention because
its trunk and lower branches were dis
colored, as if large fire had recently
been lit underneath it. A clump of
bushes grew in front of it which
concealed the base. Well, as 1
looked towards it was surprised to see
projecting above the bush, and fastened
apparently to the tree, pair of fine
riding boots with the toes upwards. AT
first l thought that they were tied
there, but as l looked harder saw
that they were secured by Il great nail
which was hammered through the foot
of each. And then suddenly, with
thrill of horror, understood that they
were not empty boots, and, moving my
head n little to the right, was able to
see who it was that had been fastened
there and why a fire had been lit be-
meath the tree. 1t is not pleasant to
speak or think of horrors, my friends,
and l do not wish to give any of you
you among the Spanish guerrillas with
out showing you what kind of men
they We're and the sort of warfare that
they waged. l will only say that I'M
dcrstood why Monsieur Vidal's horse
was waiting r,astcrless in the grove,
and that hoped that he had met this
terrible fate with sprightlincss and
courage, as good Frenchman ought.
1t was nota very cheering sight for
me, as you can imagine. When l had
been with their chief in the grotto 1
had been SO carried away by my rage
at the cruel death of young Soubiron,
who was one of the brightest lads who
ever threw his thigh over /; charger,
own position. Perhaps it would have
been more polite had l spoken the
ruf1ian fair, but it was too late now.
The cork was drawn and must drain
the wine. Besides, if the harmless
commissariat man was put to such q
death. what hope was there for ne,
who had snapped the spino of their
lieutenant? No, was doomed in any
case, SO it was as well, perhaps, that 1
should have put the best face on the
matter. This beast could bear witness
that Eticnne Gerard had died us he
had lived, and that one prisoner at
laast had not u,,oiled bcfora him law
there thinking Of the varions girls who