The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-12-10

THE Prussians entered in through
the open door; saw others in the
road. There must have been about
one hundred of them altogether. A
young officer was in command.
"He came up to me and said,
brutally-
"'Is it you who are Nine. Jambe?'
eyes, am she, I answered him.
"'Your son has just entered this
house."
".My soni He is far away from
here, always supposing that he is
still alive
"'He is here; I am sure of it.
Come, now, where is hep
"'You must seek him them
"He made a sign. and I was sur
rounded and prevented from NOV
ing my position. The soldiers ram
sacked tho house, I asked myself
meanwhile who could be the coward
that had betrayed my son.
"At last the brutes found him
him and his friends, and l saw them
dragged out covered with the hay
in which they had attempted to con-
ceal themselves. And my sonl How
brave and handsome be looked with
his flashing eyes. Yes he was my
own flesh and blood, and I felt
proud of him. They were vigorously
searched for the message they were
supposed to bear, bnt as it was a
verbal one they could find nothing.
"The officer stamped about the
room, mad with rage. CHANGING at
the prisoners, he said:
"'Is your son amongst them?'
"'He is not; and if he were !
would not confess It.
"He drew his sword on me, and
then we were all dragged out into
the roadway, the officer shouting:
"Where is the man who gave US
the information?
"'One of his companions has
just killed him, a Prussian sergeant
replied, pointing to a corpse which
I had not seen, hidden as it was
behind a bush.
"The traitor was q franc-tireur,
who, to save his own life, had given
up my son to the enemy. His pun
ishment had not been long delayed.
"'The murderer will be shot T.
cried the officer; then, looking
6ercely at a group of villagers who
were covering under his mems bay
onets, he confined:
"'Some one among you knows the
man Jambe; point him out to me, or
| will order my men to fire on you
"Ah! they were brave, my neigh
bors, they made no reply.
"'Then we will soon find out
He gave an order in a low voice.
His men pinned me with my back
against wall, and placed rifles in
the hands of my son and his COM
rades.
"And the officer said:
"'On the word of command you
will fire and kill tina. woman. Ifyou
disobey it will be your turn next
"a cry of horror ran through the
crowd, followed by dead silence.
well, l offered my soul to the
bon Dieu, telling myself that l
must try to show how a French
woman could die if need be, and /
waited, watching my son.
"But be did not seem to see me.
His eyes were turned to his COM
rades. They seemed to be making
signs 10 one another.
"'Present 7 and they obeyed, GOV.
ering me with their rifles.
"'Fire!' They turned suddenly
to the right about. An explosion
followed, and four Prussians, the
officer among the number, fell. And
above the roar of the discharge l
heard my boys voice clearly:
"'Firel Yes, but on you, you
coward!'
"A general volley on the part of
the Prussians followed, and I fell
with bullet in my shoulder. Be-
fore / lost consciousness, however,
| saw that my son was still unhurt.
II learned afterward that, just at
this moment, the cannon Of the
Fort de Joux began to play. The
commandant had caught the reflec.