Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-06-27
Chapter
Ihirtrtwo
nor the history Of this night from
I the enemy's side thanks are due
to the memory and to the un-

tuC CACLAy > Blue luuukS are uu0
to the memory and to the un-
abashed courtesy Of Lieutenant
Rastatz, who came alive, II not with a
whole skin, out Of the encounter and
lived to reach middle age under a new
regime 50 unappreciative Of his serv-
Ices that It cashiered him for getting
drunk within year from this date.
He ended his days as billiard marker
at the Golden Lion, a fact agreeable to
poetic justice, but not otherwise mate
rial. While occupying that capacity he
was always ready to open his mouth to
talk provided he were afforded also q
better reason for opening 1t.
Stafnitz and his men felt that their
hard work was done. They were with
IN touch Of Slavna, and they had no
reason. AZ they supposed. to fear any
attack. The colonel had INDUCED them
In something approaching to- i cafouse.
Songs had been sung and speeches
made; congratulations were freely Of
Tered to. the colonel; sallusions were
thrown out not, too carefully yelled to
the predicament In which Etenhsics
found himself. Hard work, 4 good
supper and plentiful wine had their
eject. Save the sentries ali were asleep
ct 10 o'clock and game to sleep till the
reveille sounded at 8. tfs s@acT
Their presence was 4 surprise to their
assailants. who had perhaps approach
ed in too rash a confidence that they
were first on the ground. But the
greater surprise befell those who had
now to defend the barges and the
guns. When the man who had found
the dead sentry ran back and told his
tale, all Of them. from Stafnitz down.
ward. conceived that the attack must
come from Stenovics. None thought Of
Sophy and her volsenians. There they
were packed IN the barn. separated
from their horses and with their car
bines laid aside The carbines were
easily caught up. the horses not 20
easily reached. supposing an active.
skillful enemy at hand outside. i.
For themselves their position was
good to stand a siege. But Stafnitz
could not afford that His mind dew
where Sophy's had. Throughout and
On both sides the guns were the factor
which dominated the tactics Of the
fight It was no use for Stafnitx to
stay snug In the barn while the enemy
overpowered the barges (supposing
they tried fight. disposed of the GENTRY
stationed on each deck and captured
the guns. Let the assailant carry them
OF and the colonel's game was up.
Whoever the foe was. the fight was for
the guns and for one other thing no
doubt. for the colonel's life.
I'VE felt In the deuce of a mess"
Rastatz related. "for we didn't know
how many they were. and we couldn't
see one Of them. The colonel walked
out OF the barn cool as a cucumber and
looked and listened. He called to me
to go with him. and so l did. keeping
as much behind his back as possible.
Nothing was to be seen. nothing to be
heard. He pointed to the rising ground
opposite. That must hide them,' he
said. Back he went and called the first
half company. You follow me In sin.
gle file out of the barn and round to
the back Of 1t. Let there be a foot be-
tween each of you. room enough to
miss. When once You get in rear Of
the barn. make FOR the barges. Never
mind the horses. The second half conf
pany will cover the horses with their
hre. Rastatz. see my detachment round
and then follow. Wen leave the ser