The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-13
BIZ MICHAEL. PORTER.
SCopyright, 1911, by Associated Lit
erary Press

III 4ICpSrgEnt, lSIts py ASsDClAteu isit-
erary Press.
Excellent. they are tunneiing!"
The jailer at Metz was an old SOL
der. a sergeant of tried bravery. yet
his face was gray and his huge ring
ct keys cfinked faintty with his trcm-
\ bling as he delivered the message.
The governor OF Metz was a vet
eran. too: a man of iron upon whom
this terrible siege by the Germans
had So far made no Impression. Now
+ the corded brown hand on his desk
closed convuisiVeiy. But he asked
quietly enough. "
'-How dc you know, sergeant o.
I'VE can hear them. excellency. Ii
Was past midnight when Jean Of the
dungeon guard came running and
said he could hear the tap-tap-tap OF
their picks. / went with him to a
distant corridor where the political
prisoners are confined. There i list
ensd. The blows came distinctly, but
The exact direction ] could not deter
mine This much I know. They are
but short distance outside our
walls"
Tho prisoners
They know nothing Of the tunnel
srs. and are wild with fear"
The governor of Metz rose from his
: GtAatt+ MklA EV WIN .Nphf if ShiAs
They were deep in the heart of the
ponderous fortiflcations which still
held Metz for the French. despite the
savage attacks of the host of encir-
cling Germans, Overhead the heavy
guns doomed; their reports made DUH
rum hles here in the rocks where for
years men had been burroNing. As
for the answering German cannon.
they could not be heard at all.
The sergeant led the way with his
lantern through Tow passages which
hrancEed continually into the dark
ness. Occasionally they passed a sem
Try. who drew himself UP and sa-
lated when he saw the grim face Of
the governor. The rudy glow of
fires bathet the walls Of rock rooms
where whole companies were quar-
r~4ed. They had glimpses OF men
aaarreling. or Joking, or playing
cards, or sleeping.
At last they reached damp, dark
alley beneath the very lip of the for
tifications. Awaiting them was the
vice. governor. General Moran, a fair
haired. handsome young man, sur
rounded by group of whfte-faC ed
soIdiers. They saluted in grave ST.
ieuce.
The governor did not need to ask
why they strained their ears TO listen
When his footsteps and those of the
Jailer had ceased To echo he heard
the sounds that fell like dea Il
kneiI on their hearts--the steady
irregular blows of excavating tools
SO masked by the echoIng corridors
that he could not tell whether they
came from in front or behind or.
indeed. from beneath their very feet.
ttlsf Slime within the fortress Crum-
pied Ike an old coat The news Of
fhe tap-tappmg spread like wildnre
Men rushed from the BON h-proofs to
be cut down miserably In the open
{ asv the storm OF shells from. the Ger
man guns. Throughout the miles OF
tunnel ran a thrill OF terror. for the
exact location where the blow woulu
be struck could not he determined
Sentries were driven into the corri-
doris with the fiat of the sword since
no one had a taste 10 he blown to
atoms by the explosion of thousands
of pounds of powder. The purpose
OF the Germans was to breach the
walls with a huge charge of explo-
sives and then capture Metz by rush
ing hrigades through the opening.
The governor fought brayely to
overcome the plans of the enemy and
restore confidence among his men,
He started a score OF counter-tunnels
ping; he sent out regiments in every
4. Gtrectlon TO engage the. enemy hane'
TO hand. But, inexorable aY death. the
noise continued. day and night.
AT the end of three days his nerves
were worn 10 shreds and his splendid
army. which had borne the horrors
of a disastrous campaign and long
siege as well, was little better than
u hysterieal mob. As he sat at his
desk in the winter dusk. head on his
chest. he realized that if the tunnel
pf the Germans were carried through
he would lose not only his well-won
\ se.satata ttgss, Asat prqba hlN life itself
He looked APP with II start as the
door swung open. Before his chief
stood Gen. Moran, his comeiy face
aItght with excitement and hope.
"Excellency," cried the vice-gover-
nor waving all ceremony, the po-
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