The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-03-06

"And don't you find it very dull up
here all alone?" I asked. mo" he an
swered; mot so dull as you might think,
by any means. You see, there is plenty
Of game to be had, large and small, for
the shooting: the scenery is delightful to
me, who. like you. am bit of an artist,
and then the banditti usually provide a
little additional excitement. WHAT |
said, ''are there banditti around here,
them" Yes" he answered: most GER
talnly, though not in the direction from
which you have come. But as you pro-
coed into Bohemia you will find the
mountains infested with them, and l
shall send an escort down with you to-
morrow. Indeed, in these piping times Of
peace it is chiefly for the purpose of es-
he will be tried by the military there.
But you must be tired and glad to get to
bed" Saying this, he showed me to a
small bedroom and left me to my SUM
bers.
was awakened early by the sound OF
bugle, and was soon out to enjoy the
fresh air and fine scenery. | was i'm
mediately struck by the strong position
of the fort, the site on which it was built
being admirably adapted for defense.
The road, if road it could be called--per-
haps pass would be better word-here
ran for a full mile in a kind of glen or
gully, lined on either side by lofty and
precipitOus rocks, which, towering UP
high on either side, left only a narrow
way in the middle. Standing in the cen
ter of this gully, you could look along the
path about half a mile each way, at
which distance it came to stop, the
road suddenly dipping down on one side
to Robensburg and on the other toward
q forest. 1t was in the middle of this
valley, Or rather cutting, that the fort
had been built, stretching across the mar
row way from one wall to the other, so
that if necessary, the road could be com
pletely blocked and swept by the guns Of
the fort IN times Of peace the fort had
cOrting travellers through the mountains
that we are here. You will have a spe-
cially strong escort tomorrow, though, as
we have here at present confined in the
fort notorious bandit We captured but
yesterday in raid on his hiding place,
and tomorrow | shall send him down to
Robensburg for trial. There is no doubt
what his fate Will be. Two murders
have been proved against him, and there
are numerous improved ones and hun
dreds of robberies down to his name. 1t
is, as you say, long way to send him.
but Robensburg is our headquarters, and
q gate left permanently open. allowing
travellers to walk right through it and
pursue their way to the other side
My friend the lieutenant soon joined
me, and | remarked on the strong posi-
ton held by the fort. Yes" said he,
smiling, Il think we could give good
account of ourselves before an enemy
could pass along the road from end to
end" and he pointed to the three guns
mounted on each side, commanding the
two roads. A large one was in the mid
die and a smaller one was on each side
of it. and very formidable they looked
He said | might leave them at noon,
when the escort for the prisoner would
be ready. Hardly had he finished speak
ing when a shout was heard in the fort,
followed by the report of a rifle and
babel of cries. The officer rushed down
to see what was the matter, | following
him closely. Arrived at the square, we
found a crowd of soldiers assembled
around a man lying ON the ground, bleed
ing profusely from a wound in the shout
der. The officer was quickly told the
cause of the tumult The bandit, while
being led out of his cell, preparatory to