Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-30
THE AMBUSCADE.
"Pigol! Artaud! Didier!"

Each man answered present" as
his name was called, and rising from
bis straw bed took his rifle from the
rack and went silently out into the
court.
Five o'clock struck from the steeple
of a distant church, each stroke vibrat-
ing with a dismal sound.
Without a word, the sharpshooters
drew up before the half open door Of
the post, through which came putfs OF
warm air, and whose windows were
dimly lighted by the rays of a petro-
leum lamp. There were ten men, their
hands in their pockets, their guns hang
ing from the shoulders by a strap, the
collars Of their Jackets turned up, and
shivering from the first contact with
the cold morning air.
At q distance, by the wall of the
farm, q sentinel was pacing up and
down, peering into the menacing dark
ness, with ears alert for the vague
sounds of the country. He saluted with
a GOOD luck, comrades!' and after
hating a moment to watch us descend
toward the Mouse by a path leading
through a little hollow continued his
monotonous promenade.
We followed the bank Of the river.
The water flowed beside us with an in
termittent splashing and a gentle rustic
against the rushes. We could see moth
ing distinctly. The river and the town
were asleep, and the fields and sky
seemed blended in a uniform tint Of in
dia ink.
My men marched without speaking a
word, and with the cautious wariness
that proximity to the enemy gives to
the bravest. At such a time, when
plunging into an unknown danger,
there are few but would feel a shiver
rum through them, and ! myself, having
tolerably excitable nerves, feverishly
fingered my sword knot beneath my
cape.
When we passed our last outpost, we
halted, and in a few words l explained
to my men the work which lay before
Us.
: Every morning at daybreak a platoon
| Of uhlans made a round between Warcq
and Darmouzy, two towns occupied by
q Prussian observation corps. They
were seen to file quietly along about ~
miles in advance Of their lines. We had
orders to lie in ambush for them i'll the
woods of Etourneaux, through which
they had to pass.
We o left the towpath and cut
across the fields, by o difficult ascent,
where our feet sank in the long grass.
The wind had risen, driving away
the clouds, and a dim light fell from
above. About 200 yards before us a
dwelling outlined itself-the farm OF
Grael, recently burned to prevent the
Prussians from establishing themselves
there.
One soldier was sent forward to scout
and went off like a hare, crouching and
using the greatest caution. From the
ditch where we were hidden, will
weapons ready, we watched him fol
some time; then he disappeared in the
dusk. In about five minutes he return
ed, having seen nothing suspicious
Then we crossed the courtyard Of thu
farm. Only the four walls were still,
standing, but half crumbled away. The
burned debris crushed under our feet,
and q strong smell Of smoke almost
choked us. Perfect silence reigned-tht
silence of new ruins, where life has MOI
yet had time to graft itself upon tn
death Of former things.
A gray light appeared inthe horizon
the wind waited us the sound Of a clocl
striking the half hour and the voice.
Of cooks saluting the dawn.
Al We reached the wood the day be
gan to break. We marched in single fill
along an indistinct path, obstructed b.
overhanging branches, which scratched
our faces or fell with a dry crack. Tn
dead leaves blown here and there BY
puff Of wind Weakened muffled echoes il
the wood then again all was silence.
"Haltr
The sur rising behind us in the to
threw : red light across the coppice
and the dew sparkled on the borders Q
the leaves. An early chaf1nch San
above our. heads.
Stationed on the bank overhangin
the road, some Of the sharpshooter
squatted ON their heels and hastily at
piece of bread or drank a swallow {
brandy. The others waited, lying o
their stomachs, their elbows buried
tho moss. They all looked serious, wit
pinched noses and set lips.
Daylight increased. Already we coul
see the white trunks Of the birch treel
looking like stiff phantoms among th
notified foliage. The morning dampnel
penetrated me to the bone in spite {
my cape, and ! dozed with my eye
open, made light headed by the odor {
the moist leaves and the anticipation
the coming fight; odd dreams and fal
tastic Authorizations wandered throug
my brain, and tangled rings Of uhlar
scanned TO dance around me. Aft,
many wakenings I mechanically DIRE
out my watch-the hands seemed ST