The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-04-24
ana we must sapporr

S" otAtN rdHCiieLIe. lQe
patrol is marching by.n
] Who cares for them ?* cried the
sergeant. "Fanchette, T brought
home another bundle today. That
makes ten"
"Ten what ?"
Ten bundles" said the sergeant,
with wink. "Ask me no questions,
and I'll tell you no lies. We'll, cap
| tain ?''
"Well, sergeant, what are you
thinking of ?"
Tomorrow night and tho Cafe
de la Victoire."
$50 was /. We will warn all of
our fellows tomorrow. Let them 20
armed, and we'll put Bressant
through, whatever comes Of it,"
"Good," said the sergeant, rising
and taking up his bed candle. "I'll
| oil my pistols before I go to bed.
And if we don't meet again, cap
tain, the rendezvous will be the Cafe
de la Yictoire, the hour sharp 2.
| Good night, captain"
Good night, sergeant"
Pleasant Dreams" cried Fan
| chette.
The next night the saloon Of the
Cafe de la Victoire was crowded
with Russian and French soldiers,
the latter dressed as citizens, with
swords and pistols concealed under
their blouses. There was q great
consumption of brandy among the
Cossacks, and the walters who sup
piled their calls looked anxious ard
hurried. They evidently expected
trouble, nor were their forebodings
deceptive. The curtain was rung
up and the piece commenced.
When Bressant, the offendIlg &C.
tor, appeared, there were murmurs
among the Russians, but these we're
drowned in the applauding shouts
of the French spectators, and one or
two bouquets were thrown at his
feet. The play, however, was suffer
ed 70 go on till the finale was sung,
and when the orchestra played the
symphony for this piece the audi
ence sat perfectly motionless and
silent. 1t was the lull that prccedes
the hurricane. Bressant advanced
fearlcssly to the footlights and COM
menced the obnoxious verse. Then
rose a storm and howl of groans
and Kisses mingled with applause.
Colonel Ostrogof, a gigantic Rus
sian, rose in his place and addressed
the actor:
"French dog" said he, ssapolo-
gize for the insult you have offered
usp
"Ncver!" replied the actor. II
sing what is set down for me, and
will apologize to no living man for
doing my duty"
| Quick as a flash the Russian drew
pistol from his belt and fired it
full in the face of Bressant, who fell
without groan.
"Rcvcngep shouted Bonville,
throwing off his blouse and disclos-
ing his artillery uniform. Cup,
Frenchmen, end down with the Cos
sacksl"
A terrible struggle ensued. Pts
tolls and knives were freely used.
Frenchmen and Cossacks grappled.
The tables were overturned, the
lights were put~out, the most dire
confusion prevailed. The combat
ants fought their way out into the
street and there continued the dead
! ly encounter But it was not of long
duration. The firing and cries
brought down reinforcement
from the Russian camp.
/ A troop of Cossacks dashed into
the melee and dispersed the feeble
band of Frenchmen, killing some of
them, while Captain Bonville, the
ringleader, remained a prisoner in
the hands of Ostrogof.
The next day was an eventful one
] for Troyes.. Intelligence was brought
into camp by scouts that Napoleon
was approaching. AS the day wore
on heavy firing was heard gradual
| ~. drawing near the town. It was
reported by fugitives that the
French had utterly routed their op-
/ ponents and were moving on at q
rapid rate; flushed with victory, to
the relief of Troyes.
All was confusioN in the Russian
camp. A brief period of idleness,
consumed in unbridled debauchery,
had demoralized and weakened the
Cossack force, and the officers cal
! mn q 4 4 l. u
q conflict. Still the prisoner, Bon
Vile, yes net overlooked in. the
midst Of this crisis. During the
| forenoon he was examined before a
military tribunal, mere form, ex-
torted by his rank, and sentenced to
be shot. At the very moment he
listened to his sentence, with un-
moved countenance, the rattle Of
musketry was heard near at hand,