Evening star., 1898-09-17
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Cottage of Hans Schwartz.

division Vansittart's orders for general
attack.
Their powerful opponents had been
tempted to abandon an impregnaole posi-
tion. and not in vain. While the French
had quietly and without fatigue, taken up
an excellent line of country for rapid ma
neuvering and quick concentration, the
Germans were suffering from precisely con-
trary conditions.
Yet he was bold man who decried the
mettle Of the invaders.
Vansittart was about to move to shght
hill on the left of the Metz road when his
watchful eye CHANGED upon FOlliet-
Have you brought a regiment of police,
monsieur" inquired jerome.
NO. OH 10. Just myself"
But tell mel have moment to spare.
Surely some extraordinary event has drag
ged you thus far from Paris and into our
biggest battie?'
s'Yes. monsieur The farm OF Hans
Schwartz is beyond Gravelotte, by the side
of the Metz road. l want TO inspect that
farm tonight"
"Ha- Then you think We will help you to
get there
u sure of it.
There are 400. 900 Germans in the way
l wish l were assured of it myself, though
l believe We will get the best of the strug-
gle"
Yes, 600 Germans; but they have the
kaiser to direct them. l know him well.
He plays the conqueror on parade. lie cam
not smile. lie poses. Today's events viii
overPUwcr him. He will see his mistakes
tomorrow.
Jerome smiled at this "caustic summary"
''Well. We shall see. l hope TO meet You
near the house of Hans Schwartz"
Beaumarchais division, the foreign legion
in particular. was suffering severely during
an orderly retreat Sullen!y, desperately,
steadily the Frenchmen retired before the
crushing onslaught of the Hanoverians,
now strongly reinforced.
At last the check came. The French
guns, admirably screened and disposed.
suddenly rained shrapnel upon the advanc-
ing Germans. The enemy Hinched, halted
and reeled back beneath this inftiction, and
their guns rapidly unlimbered TO engage
the French batteries.
Soon the infantry combat died into moth
ingness beside the thunder of the giant en-
counter that ensued forthwith between the
opposing artillerists- Battery after battery
gaIloped up on both sides. and the superior
numbers Of the German guns would have
quickly decided this phase of the struggle
were 1t not that the French had the tre-
mendOus advantage Of selection of ground.
The nature of the country preCluded long
range firing. as gunners understand it.
Barely q nile separated the most distant
batteries. and here again. in view of the
appalling accuracy and effect of the mis-
siles, the Germans labored under draw
back
Their exposed positions rendered the
French practice more deadly. and it was
clear to the experienced officers on NanSit-
tart's staff that the French guns were able
to hold their own against the assailants.
Daubisson rocked in the saddle with ad
miTatiOn.
There" he gasped. Il told you SO. The
artillery duel, Ii is superb. Viola la guer-
rel
Vansittart heard him and answered not.
He simply looked at his watch. But Dau-
bisson fully understood. Five hours in time
and three miles in space made a vast diff
ference between his ideal Of war and the
millionaires-
Column after column of the German in
fantry put in an appearance, and the lead
ing division Of the French central army
corps was deploying for the attack.
Soon the believing of the cannon failed
10 drown the continuous roar of the mag
azine rifles
GaIlopers came from both hanks to an
nounce definite engagement with the en-
envy. At l 30 p m. the battle became gener-
al, and the tide of conflict surged in red
waves over front extending nearly five
miles.
This was a small area for the number of
men on the field. and the fight. thus con-
densed. ragged with the greater ferUcity. On
neither side was there sign of yielding
To the right wing Eansittart sent the i'm
perative order Upon NJ account attempt
70 outnank the enemy. Hold your ground
against all attacks
To the left stand fast. Fight in square
If necessary"
With his glasses giCed to the center of
the German line he watched and watched
with the air of a man that expected some
thlnS which came net. Four hundred yards
in the rear lie Breton. who could see
A'4uSht OF the fight watched Eansittart
AT last, in the rage of the hour men
swore at jerome and even threatened him
They importuled Daubisson TO use his pre-
rosative as nominal commander-in-cl,ief
and give orders for the cavalry TO be en-
Daubisson wrung his hands in the i'm
potence Of abject despair, but he uttered no
..E From out the turmoil stood one patent
Iact- Although the kaiser had launched
the iuii power Of the mighty thunderboIt
ne controlled. the German infantry had not
gained a foot Of French ground.
With splendid herOism his famous tronDs
hurled themselves on the defenders, and
tne guuners sacrificed themselves To the
french batteries by turning their fire up0n
the French infantry.
II was no use. If the Germans v,ara
brave, so Were the French. They could die
not unaVenged. but they could not break
through the living barrier that resisted
At quarter to 3 O'Clock he discerned the
nuttering lance pennants of vast BODY Of
mounted troops gathered in rear of the
herman guns
Vansittart's face flushed with trj,mnb
When ne saw the rapid preparations in
progress behind the batteries
turning To the stan. he said: Tell Ie
Breton To advance at the trot =
-Four officers raced off and an aIart ,ir
OF Jubilation swept away the frenzy OF tho
others But Daubisson gazed at the mil
lonalre. awe-stricken- Now ne understood
lie approached Nansittart CLOSELY so thar
ne might be heard. Il deal with rnaneUv-
ers. monsieur, he said, you deal with
men" WIN
Even In the anxiety OF this supreme mo-
rnent. Tor the next ten minutes would ire
E"cao!y determine the result of the fight
Jerome was able 20 reply smilingly;
II is my only accomplishment. general
but IL suftices" a.
NOT until the German horses were fairly
Iaunched down the opposite slope did the
startled Gunners and perpIexed colonels of
infantry perceive the fun extent of the
storm about To burst upon them
Brigade succeeded brigade across the
ridge and down the hill riding in beautifni
Ahes, ana pouring on over a wide front
unti "oOO troopers were in motion gath
ering pace as they came.
The guns tore gaps in them hundreds fell
before the showers of bullets. but the pIit-
tering ranks swept on and the earth rhun-
dered W. the myriad beats of iron-shod
hoofs
Inc Germans were still quarter of a mile
from the advanced lines of French skirrn
ishers. and men were running back to their
regiments for dear life. when a great roar
or delight went up from the French army.
lie Breton. leading the 18th ChaSseIIrs