The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-01-27

detachment was no more than dozen
strong. But they had started before
Stafnitz's men had got out OF the barn
and despite the smaller distance the
latter had TO traverse could make a
good race OF It for the barges. They
had all kept together, too. while the
enemy struggled round to the rear of
the barn In single file. And they had
one great. perhaps decisive. advantage.
Of whose existence Peter Vassip. their
guide. was well aware.
Forty yards beyond the farm a small
ditch ran down 10 the Krath. On the
side near the farm It had a high over
hanging bank. the other side being
nearly level with the adjoining mead
ow. Thus II formed n natural trench
and led straight down to where the
first OF the barges lay. II would have
been open 20 an enflade from the river.
but Stafnitz had only one sentry on
each barge. and these men were occu-
pied in staring nj their advancing COM
panions and calling out to know what
was the matter. As for the bargees.
they had wisely declared neutrality.
deeming the matter no business OF
theirs. Shots were not within the
terms OF a contract for transport. Stat.
nitz, not dreaming OF an attack. had
not reconnoltered his ground. But I.u-
kovitch knew every inch OF Il chad not
General Stenovics remembered that0.
and so did Peter vasslp. The surprise
OF Praslok was 20 be avenged.
Rastatz takes up the tale again. His
narrative has one or two touches vivid
with local color
"when got round 10 the rear OF the
barn I found our fellows scattered
! bout ON their bellies. The colonel was
In front on his belly. with his head
just raised from the ground. looking
about him. lay down. too. getting my
head behind a stone which CHANGED 10
be near me. ! looked about me. too.
when II seemed sHfe. And Il did seem
safe at first. for we could hear nothing.
and deuce a man could we see. But II
wasn't very pleasant because we knew
that. sure enough. they must be pretty
hear us somewhere. Presently the colo
mel came crawling back TO me. What
do you make OF Il. Rastatzr he whis-
pered. Before could answer we heard
q brisk exchange OF fire In front OF the
barn. 4 don't like It. said. 4 can't
see them. and I've n notion they can
see me. colonel, and that's not the
pleasantest way 60 fight. Is IT, Cad.
you're right said he. But they won't
see me any the better for cigarette
And then and there he III one.
'Well. he'd just thrown away his
match when a young fellow-quIte a
tad he was--a couple OF yards from US
suddenly jumped from his belly on %
his knees and called out quite loud-lt
seemed 20 me he'd got sort OF panic
quite loud he called out. 'Sheepskins
sheepsklnsr I jumped myself. and I
saw the colonel start. But, by love. Il
was true! When you took a snlI. you
could smell them. or course | don't
mean what the better class wear You
couldn't have smellod the tunic our
lamented prince wore nor the one the
witch decked herself out IN but you
NVAAA rAAAtAA n NNAAAANH ANAAWM NAANNIN
skin twenty yards off-aye. against the
wind unless the wind was mighty
strong.
'Sheepskins II lsr said the colonel.
with a snin. 'Volsenians. by CAD! It's
Mistress Sophia. Rasiatz. or some OF
her friends anyhow Then be sworc
wo-fhily: 'StcnOvlcs must have put
them up 20 thisi And where the devil
are they. RastnizT lie raised his head
as he spoke and got his answer. A bull
let came singing along and went right (
through his shake. II came from the
line OF the ditch. lie lay down again.
n little and took a pun at his
cigarette before he threw 1t away. Just
then one OF our sentries beloved from
the first barge. In the ditch. In tho
ditchr 4 wish you'd spoken n bit
sooner says the colonel. laughing |
again"