Semi=weekly graphic., 1899-07-22

but I could see him still bearing aloft the flag above the smoke of the battle.
 Our fire slaekened; our ammunition had given out; the end had come. The word strangles me yet when I think of tive were forced to surrender.
 TWO hours later they imprisoned us in farmhouse that the fires of war had spared. \ Prussian field marshal, followed by his chief of staff, dis mounted for look at his prisoners.
 His men showed in their eyes the pleasure our capture gave them; but their white uniforms, blackened with powder and the marks of our saber thrusts. showed the evil we had done them.
 The field marshal ordered the wounded to be attended to, and, step- ping in front of my father, demanded the flag. My father, whose hands we saw were empty, declared he did not know where it was. The field mar shal turned to the officer of the post and said:
 'Yery well. if he does not remem- Der by tomorrow morning, shoot him."
 When they had relieved us of ouf arms and placed Us under guard. my father, who watched the sentinel from the corner of his eye, told us that he had hidden the flag; that, seeing the day was going against us, he had torn aHfaf dor q 1aI1n Q eagle from it's perch, flung it into a ditch, while he had concealed the precious silk, riddled with balls, under his coat.
 My father was simple man, the descendant of peasants, q son of the soil; but in speaking to us of these things the man seemed to expand and become exalted with the words he ut tered.
 He told us this fragment of silk was sacred, that the wind that swelled it's folds was the breath of the nation, and that it moved in the midst of us on the march as the image of our country
 Then he thrust it into my bosom. not wishing it to be found on him when he should be shot next day.
 In the evening the Prussians sent a flag of truce asking Q suspension of hostilities that each might bury it's dead. and asked one of our number to act as guide to our lines. An old com rade, who knew the country well, of fapn1 f1 aar 174at 41,1 -fy;or,, zr-l,a,, i# was discovered that no one had bandage for the eyes of the bearer of the flag of truce.
 4 sudden idea struck me- It was running a great risk, but it was worth the trial
 If you wish, will bandage the eyes of the officer with my handker- chief, I said I produced the flag, the red and blue stripes of which I had folded inside leaving the white alone visible.
 My father instantly understood my ruse and explained in patois to the guide that he was to remove the bandage, and while the preliminaries were in progress deliver it safely into the hands of our troops
 The lantern gave but a feeble light and no doubt. providence favored us. for the thing passed and the officer mounted his horse and with his eyes bandaged, followed the lead of the guide.
 We could but accompany in thought the enemy. who carried back himself the aag within the lines of our own army The time passed. We heard in the night the cathedral clock strike the hours At last we heard the sen tinel's challenge. The flag of truce had returned. rushed to the guide
 "The flag is sayed!" I cried.
 ..Yes, but we are lost he answered.
 Tn few words he explained that the affair had succeeded, but that the of fcer had discovered too late the ruse, and had returned furious. In fact, he came accompanied by superior of-7 feer and pointed out to him the man who had conducted the flag of truce.
 Order out the platoon of execu- ton, commanded the officer; "this man shall he shot
 Ut was not he, eaptain?" said, ad- Yancirg in front of him; it was alone who conceived the idea of this thing"
 Excuse me, officer" intarposed my father The commander of detach- ment is responsible for the acts of his men. is he not? I had given an order; my men could only obey it"
 What is your name?" the officer demanded.