Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-05-26

Z dSS Oh QuiChly, 6uQ there Cloy We're
on the way to Aubersvilliers How the
big fellow laughed!
Confusedly, as in dream. little
Stenne saw the factories transformed
into barracks, the tall chimneys, pierre
ing the fog, partially broken off. From
time to time they came upon sentinels.
officers who were securing the horizon
with field glasses, and little tents. wet
with snow, standing before dying fires.
The large boy knew the way, and went
across the fields, being careful to avoid
the military outposts. Notwithstand-
ing his precautions, they suddenly
came upon a squad of ri1emen. The
troops were partially hidden in ditch
which bordered the scissors railroad.
This time they were not allowed to
pass so readily, though the large boy
told his story in the most pathetic
manner. While he was weeping, an
old, white-haired sergeant came out
of one of the little tents and said:
Don't cry, little fellow; we will let
you go to hunt for your potatoes. But
come in first and warm yourselves a
bit; the little one looks frozen.
Alas! it was not the cold that made
little Stenne shiver So 1t was fear
and shame. Inside the tent they found
soldiers huddled together around lit
tie fire, baking biscuits on the points
of their bayonets. They made room for
the children, and gave them a drop of
their warm coffee; while they were
drinking it an officer appeared at the
door, called the sergeant, and, after a
few words with him in a low tone,
went quickly away.
Boys" said the sergeant on re-en-
tering, there will be fun tonight. We
have found out the Prussian counter
sign. l believe at last we are to cap
ture that cursed Bourget."
Then followed an explosion of braves
and shouts. The soldiers danced and
flourished their bayonets. Taking ad-
vantage of the tumult the boys slipped
away. On leaving the trench they
saw before them a plain, bordered one
side by a long, white wall, defaced by
bullets. 1t was towards this that they
directed their footsteps, stopping often,
as if picking up potatoes.
LET us go back when we get to the
WALL" said Stenne.
The other boy only shrugged his
shoulders and went steadily forward
Ali at once they heard click and saw
a gun pointed at them.
Crouch down." whispered the large
bay, throwing himself on the ground.
Once down he whistled; another
whistle answered. Then they rose and
went up to the fertilization. Over the
wall they saw two yellow mustaches
under dirty military caps. The large
boy jumped down beside the Prussian.
"This is my brother" he said, point
ing to his companion. Stenne was so
little that, on seeing him, the Prussian
began to laugh, and he was obliged to
take him by the arm to help him over
the rampant.
Behind the wall were earthwOrks,
fallen trees and great black bitches. In
each ditch were the same yellow mus
taches, which laughed as the little fell
low went past. In one corner was a
house protected by trunks of trees The
lower story was filed with soldiers
playing cards, while soup was cooking
over a roaring fire. How good it smell
ed, and what contrast to the camp of
the French rifemen. In the upper
story were the officers. They had
piano to play on.
When the little Parisians entered
they were greeted with shouts of joy.
The delivered their papers to the enc
my. The large boy amused them by
his odd language and his low wit.
They laughed boisterously, repeating
his expressions, fairly rolling in the
Partisan mire that was thus brought
to them.
Little Stenne would have liked to
talk, too. to show that he was not
stupid, but something seemed to choke
him. In front of him, standing apart
from the others, was an old Prussian
who seemed to be trying to read his
thoughts, as the old soldiers eyes new
er left his face. There were tenderness
and reproach in the gaze, as if the man
had a boy about Stenne's age, and as
if he would have said:
"I would rather die than seen my
son in such businessi"
The poor boy felt as if hand clutch
ed his heart so that it could no longer
beat. In the distance he heard his
companion ridiculing the national
guard, mimicking their drill and going
through other drollery. At last the boy
lowered his voice, the officers clustered
around him and their faces became
serious. The wretch was about to fore
warn them of the attack to be made
that night. Stenne suddenly realized
what was going on and called out:
"Not that! Not that"
The large boy replied with a loud
Rofarn ho had fin.