Datasets:
NNEngine
/
Gutenberg-Clean

Dataset card Data Studio Files
xet
Community
id
stringlengths
16
16
text
stringlengths
151
2.3k
word_count
int64
30
60
source
stringclasses
1 value
twg_000012930900
however, were up and about, very shortly after the arrival of Major Tempe's command; and his men were soon provided for, in the beds which they had left. Beds were now a luxury, indeed, as the corps had not slept in them since they had been quartered at Baccarat, two nights before their first encounter with the Prussians, near Blamont.
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930901
It was with great unwillingness, then, that they turned out when the bugle sounded, at two o'clock in the afternoon. They partook of a hearty meal--provided by the people upon whom they were quartered--and an hour later the whole corps marched out towards Wasselonne, a small town situated on the Breuche; a little river which, winding round by Molsheim, falls
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930902
into the Rhine at Strasburg. A branch line of railroad terminates at this place. When they arrived within three miles of it, they turned off to the right--for Wasselonne had frequently been visited by the Prussians--and slept at the little village of Casswiller, at the edge of the forest of OEdenwald. Another day's short, but weary, marching over the mountains
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930903
brought them to the village of Still; lying high upon the western slope of the Vosges, above Mutzig. From this point they had a splendid view over the valley of the Rhine. From their feet, at Mutzig, the railway ran through Molsheim straight across the country to Strasburg; the beautiful spire of whose cathedral rose above the flats, at a
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930904
distance of about fifteen miles. The day happened to be a quiet one, and the deep booming of the guns of the besiegers could be distinctly heard. The inhabitants reported that the German troops patrolled the whole valley, pushing sometimes down to the walls of Schlestadt, levying contributions and carrying off cattle. The village was very poor, and was able
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930905
to furnish little accommodation in the way of quarters, still less in that of food. Six of the villagers were, therefore, sent through the forest of OEdenwald to Raon; with an order to fetch over two oxen, and thirty sheep, of those left there in charge of the head man of the village. They returned in three days, Raon being
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930906
only about fifteen miles east of Still. The corps was now broken up into its four companies; who were stationed in the villages on the Vosges, and at the edge of the forest of Trieswald and Bar--the first company remaining at Still. From these villages they commanded a view over the whole plain; and could, with the aid of glasses,
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930907
distinctly see any bodies of men going south from Strasburg. Each company was to act independently of the other, uniting their forces only when ordered to do so by Major Tempe; who took up his headquarters with the second company, that having the most central position. Each company was to keep a sharp watch over the country, to attack any
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930908
body of the enemy not superior to themselves in force, and to cut off, if possible, any small parties pillaging in the villages of the valley, near the foot of the mountains. The first company--under their lieutenant, De Maupas--turned their special attention to Mutzig; which was not, they learned, actually occupied by the Germans, but which was frequently visited by
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930909
parties from Molsheim, where a portion of the army of the besiegers was stationed. The young Barclays, their cousins, and Tim Doyle were quartered together, in one of the largest houses in the village; and from thence a fine view over the plain was attainable. They were not destined to remain long in inactivity. Upon the fourth day after their
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930910
arrival, they saw a party of some twenty horsemen approaching Mutzig. In five minutes every man had assembled and, at once, rapidly marched down the hill; taking advantage of its irregularities, so as to follow a track in which they would be invisible from the road. Making a long detour, they gained the road about half a mile beyond Mutzig
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930911
and, posting themselves among some trees by its side, awaited the return of the Uhlans. It was upwards of two hours before they returned. They were laughing, and singing; and the boys felt a sensation of repugnance, as they raised their rifles to their shoulders, and awaited the order to fire into their unsuspecting foes. They had not, as yet,
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930912
become hardened to the horrors of war. As the word was given, the rifles flashed out; and six of the horsemen fell. The rest, putting spurs to their horses, galloped furiously away. Molsheim was so close--and the enemy might come back again, largely reinforced, in so short a time--that the order was given to retreat, at once. Reaching the hill
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930913
and looking back, an hour later, they saw a dark mass coming from Molsheim; and the glasses soon made them out to be about a hundred cavalry, and as many infantry. It was dark as they entered Mutzig and--although it was not probable that they would ascend the hill, at night--sentries were thrown out, far down its sides, to give
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930914
the alarm; and the men were ordered to hold themselves in readiness for an immediate retreat to the forest. It happened that none of the boys were on duty and, just as they were sitting down to dinner, Tim--who had been out to fetch some wood--came running in. "Heavenly Mother! The brutes are setting fire to Mutzig, your honor." The
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930915
boys ran out. Below, a mass of red flame was rising; and it was evident that several houses were in flames. The sight was a grand one, for the light showed the outline of the slopes of the hills and, reflected on the roofs of the houses of the little town, made them look as if red hot. Out upon
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930916
the plain, round Molsheim, were the scattered lights of innumerable camp fires while, in the distance, flickering flashes--like the play of summer lightning--told of the ceaseless rain of fire kept up upon the unhappy town of Strasburg. "What a shame!" Percy said, indignantly; "as if the inhabitants of Mutzig could help our attacking the Uhlans. "Look, Ralph, there are six
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930917
distinct fires." "I suppose that is one for each man we killed or wounded, Percy. You may be sure they will make them pay, too. Thirty thousand francs, I should think, at least. "War used to be looked upon as a chivalrous proceeding. There is no romance in German warfare. They call us a nation of shopkeepers; they make war,
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930918
themselves, in the spirit of a nation of petty hucksterers." "What do you think of that, lads?" Lieutenant de Maupas said, coming up to where they were standing. "It is shameful, sir, shameful," Ralph said. "Yes," the officer said, gloomily. "This is to make war as the Vandals made it, not as it is made in the nineteenth century. In
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930919
the Crimea, in Italy--ay, even in China--we did not make war in this way. In China we burnt the Emperor's summer palace, because his soldiers had murdered our prisoners in cold blood, but we did not burn a single village." "No," Ralph said; "and I have read that, in Abyssinia, we never as much as took a fowl or a
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930920
bundle of grass from the natives, without paying for it; and we only burned the fortress of Magdala after offering it, in succession, to the various kings of the country; and destroyed it, at last, to prevent it becoming a stronghold of the Gallas--the enemies of Abyssinia. "Don't you think," he asked, after a pause, "we shall have fighting tomorrow,
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930921
sir?" "I think it very likely, indeed," the lieutenant said. "I have just sent off a messenger to the commandant, with a full report; and asked him to send over a reply whether he will come to our assistance, or if we are to fall back." "Faith, and I hope that it's not falling back we'll be, till after we've
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930922
had the satisfaction of spaking to them a bit," Tim Doyle put in. "Barring the little affair of today--which isn't worth mentioning--I haven't had a chance of a scrimmage since I joined the corps. It's been jist marching and counter-marching, over the most onraisonable country; nothing but up hill and down hill and through trees, with big stones breaking our
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930923
poor feet into pieces, and the rain running down us fit to give us the ague. "Sure, lieutenant, ye won't be for marching us away, till we've had a little divarshin?" The boys all laughed at Tim's complaint, which had been delivered in English; for although he could now understand French, he never attempted to speak it, except to ask
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930924
some necessary question. Percy translated it to the lieutenant. "You will have fighting enough, before you have done, Tim. Whether you will have it tomorrow, I don't know. There are a hundred infantry--they can't use their cavalry--and we are only twenty-six men, all told. Fortunately, we have a strong line of retreat; or I should not even wait for the
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930925
chance of being attacked." "At any rate, you think that we are safe until morning, sir?" "Yes, I think so," the lieutenant said. "Then we will go in to our dinner," Ralph said. "Who knows where we may dine, tomorrow?" Day was just beginning to break, when Percy Barclay started up in his bed. He listened for an instant, and
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930926
heard the crack of a rifle. "Up, Ralph; up all of you!" he shouted. "We are attacked." The others were on their feet in an instant. None of them had thought of undressing and, as they seized their arms and equipments, the whistle of Lieutenant de Maupas sounded loud and shrill. As they issued out there was, already, a scene
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930927
of bustle and confusion in the village. The franc tireurs were rushing from the doors. The villagers were also pouring out, women screaming and men swearing. "You had better drive off your animals up into the forest, and carry off whatever you can of value, and send the women and children off, at once," De Maupas shouted, to the head
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930928
man of the village. "We will give you as much time as we can but, if they are in full strength, it will not be long. "Now, lads, forward! Don't throw away a shot. Take advantage of every possible cover, and fall back as slowly and steadily as you can. The commandant will be here, with the second company, in
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930929
half an hour. I had a message from him, late last night." The men advanced at once, at the double, and in an instant had a view of what was going on. The six men out, as sentries, were falling back rapidly towards the village; and two dark bodies of infantry were approaching, abreast of each other, but at a
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930930
distance of two or three hundred yards apart. They were some five hundred yards beyond the retreating sentries; who were, themselves, a few hundred yards below the village. The enemy had, at present, made no reply whatever to the fire of the sentries. "Advance slowly, in skirmishing order," De Maupas said. "One flank of the company oppose each column. Open
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930931
fire at once, sight for seven hundred yards, take advantage of cover, and fire steadily." A steady fire was at once opened and, although its effects could not be perceived, they were evidently sensible; for the columns immediately threw out half their strength, as skirmishers, and opened fire. In a hundred paces De Maupas halted his men, and told them
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930932
to lie down behind shelter. The enemy were now five hundred yards off, and the franc tireurs had been joined by the sentries. The numbers were four to one and, although the position was of considerable advantage to the smaller force--as well as the fact that they were lying quiet, in shelter, while their adversaries had to fire as they
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930933
advanced--the odds were far too great to hope for success. Every moment, however, it was getting lighter; and the franc tireurs could see that their fire was doing considerable execution, whereas only two of their men had received slight wounds. The enemy, however, pushed on steadily; and were now little more than three hundred yards distant. "Fall back," the lieutenant
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930934
shouted; "six men, alternately, of each half company. Back fifty paces, at the double!" At the word, twelve men retreated, at full speed, for fifty yards; the others redoubling the fire from their breechloaders, to cover the retreat. The instant that the first men had gone fifty yards, they turned, threw themselves upon the ground, and opened fire; while those
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930935
in front ran back at full speed, passed them, and halted, in turn, fifty paces in the rear. The maneuver was repeated three times, and they then gained the end house of the village. Under shelter of a low wall, another stand was made; but the superior force of the enemy enabled them to threaten to outflank them. Many of
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930936
the Germans had fallen; but the rest advanced, with as much coolness and precision as if on parade. "How beautifully these fellows do fight!" Ralph exclaimed, in admiration. "Now, lads, we must retreat," the lieutenant said. "We have done very well. Now, across the village, and then make for the forest as hard as you can. It's not over five
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930937
hundred yards. When you are once there, make a stand again." The men turned and, in another moment, would have carried out the order when--from a house in a line with them, but about fifty yards off--a heavy fire of musketry suddenly broke out. "Hurrah, lads, there's the commandant! Stand to your wall; we'll thrash them, yet." Staggered by this
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930938
sudden and heavy fire, the Germans paused; and then fell back, to a spot where a dip in the ground sheltered them from the fire from above. For a short time, there was a cessation of the fight. At this moment, the commandant joined the first company. "Well done, indeed!" he exclaimed. "Gallantly done, lads! We heard the firing, and
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930939
feared you would be crushed before we could get up. It is fortunate I started half an hour before daybreak. We have done the last two miles at a run. "Have you suffered much?" There was a general look round. Four men had fallen, in the retreat. Another lay dead, shot through the head as he fired over the wall.
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930940
Four others were wounded; three seriously, while Ralph Barclay had a ball through the fleshy part of his arm. "Fortunately," Major Tempe said, "half a dozen men from the other village volunteered to come over to help the wounded. I will send them over here, at once. They can take some doors off their hinges, and carry these three men
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930941
right back into the forest, at once. We have not done yet. "Get your men into skirmishing line, De Maupas. I will form mine to join you. Occupy the line of gardens, and walls." Scarcely was the movement effected, when the Germans again appeared on the hillside. They had still a very great superiority in numbers; for the two companies
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930942
of franc tireurs only numbered, now, forty-five men, while the Germans--who had lost upwards of twenty men--were still nearly eighty strong. Ralph Barclay still kept his place in the ranks. Tim Doyle had bandaged up his arm; for Percy, who had at first attempted it, had nearly fainted at the sight of the blood. The Irishman was in the highest
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930943
glee; and occasionally indulged in whoops of defiance, and in taunting remarks--which would not have flattered the enemy, could they have heard and understood them. The Germans, as they emerged from their shelter, were about four hundred yards distant; and the fire at once recommenced. The franc tireurs were all lying down, and this gave them a great advantage over
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930944
the Germans and, the disparity of numbers being less, the fight raged with greater obstinacy than before. Very gradually, the enemy won their way--taking advantage of every rock and inequality of ground--until they were within two hundred yards of the village. Nearer than this they could not come, for the ground was open and, in the face of the force
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930945
in shelter, armed with breech loaders, it would have been madness to have attempted a rush. For some time, the combatants remained in the same position; merely exchanging an occasional shot, when a head or a hat was exposed. At last, Major Tempe became uneasy at the prolonged inaction upon the part of the enemy. "De Maupas," he said, "run
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930946
up to the upper story of that house, and try and see what they are doing. Look all round. I don't like this long hesitation. They are greatly superior in force, and know it. I think that they must be going to try some flanking movement." The lieutenant obeyed and, going up to the upper story of the house pointed
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930947
out by his commander, peered cautiously out. As far as he could see, nothing was stirring. The Germans appeared to be lying in the little hollow in which they were sheltered. He was about to descend, when he remembered his orders to look around in all directions. He therefore went to a window at the end of the house, and
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930948
looked carefully out. As he did so he gave a start; and his heart seemed, for a moment, to stand still. Then, with a bound, he reached the door, sprang downstairs, and rushed out to where Major Tempe was standing, behind a wall. "The cavalry are upon us," he said. "They are not five hundred yards off. They have made
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930949
a great detour and are--" Major Tempe stopped to hear no more. "Fall back, men," he shouted. "Keep well together. The cavalry are upon us. Now, at a double to the forest, for your lives. "Steady, steady!" The men sprang from the position behind which they had been firing, fell in hurriedly in the street; and then went off, at
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930950
a fast double, towards the forest. There were a few trees near, but no shelter sufficient to be of any use nearer than five hundred yards. Fortunately they were unimpeded by wounded, every man having been carried back into the forest, immediately he was struck. Still, it was evident that they could not gain the forest in time. They had
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930951
seen the leading horsemen turn into the end of the village, not more than three hundred yards distant, as they started; and the carbine balls were already whizzing over their heads. With the rapidity and steadiness which mark the movements of the Prussian cavalry, they formed in line as they issued from the village and, before the fugitives were halfway
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930952
to the forest, a line of horsemen, fifty abreast, were in full gallop behind. Then followed another, of equal strength, fifty yards behind. The franc tireurs, with their rifles and accouterments, were already slackening their speed. "We must form square, major. They are not a hundred and fifty yards behind," De Maupas exclaimed. "We can beat them off, easily enough."
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930953
Major Tempe shook his head, and shouted cheerily: "Keep on to the last moment, men, well together. I will tell you when the moment is come. Hold your rifles in readiness." In ten more seconds, he gave the word. The men were in readiness, and the square was formed as if by magic. The Uhlans were not more than eighty
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930954
yards off. "File firing," the major shouted. "Steady! Don't throw away a shot." Now was the time for breech-loading weapons, and so deadly was the fire that the center of the Prussian line melted away before it; and the men who remained reined aside their horses, as they reached the hedge of bayonets. The flanks kept on, and united again
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930955
behind the square; drawing up near the edge of the wood, a hundred and fifty yards distant. The charge of the second line was attended with precisely similar results. The instant that they had passed, however, Major Tempe shouted to his men: "On again for the woods. Steady! Keep square. Reserve your fire till I tell you. We must break
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930956
through the cavalry. They only want to keep us. Their infantry will be here in three minutes. They are through the village, already." The position of the franc tireurs was now critical in the extreme. The enemy's cavalry--between them and safety, only a hundred yards distant--had unslung their carbines, and opened fire. The infantry were nearly two hundred yards behind
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930957
but, fortunately, dared not fire for fear of hitting their own cavalry. At a rapid pace--for they were running for life--the little knot of franc tireurs dashed forward. One or two fell from the fire of the cavalry and, as they were fifty yards distant from the wood, there was a cry and Philippe Duburg fell to the ground. In
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930958
an instant Tim Doyle--who was his next man--stopped, caught him up as if he had been a feather and, with a desperate effort, again joined the others, just as they were within twenty yards of the cavalry. "Fire!" Major Tempe cried; and from the front, and from each side of the little square--which was but six deep, either way--the rifles
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930959
flashed out. "Level bayonets; charge!" There was a short struggle. The second ranks poured their fire into the cavalry line. There was a clashing of bayonets against swords, and then the band ran through the broken line of cavalry. There was a rush into the brushwood; and then, from behind the shelter of the trees, the fire opened again; and
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930960
the cavalry fell sullenly back, having lost upwards of thirty men in that short five minutes since they had left the village. The German infantry halted, at a distance of two hundred yards; but they would have lost too many men, in crossing the open, to make it worth while to attack the sheltered foe--who could pick them off, to
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930961
the last moment, only to withdraw deeper into the forest when they approached its edge. Accordingly they too fell back, exchanging fire with the franc tireurs until they gained the shelter of the village. The conflict over. The men sank, exhausted, upon the ground where they stood. Major Tempe went round to each; saying a word of praise, and giving
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930962
a little of the brandy--with which he had filled his canteen, before starting--with some water from their own kegs. Then he gave a sharp whistle, and the men again gathered round him. "Once more, lads, I must thank you for your conduct," he said. "You have defended yourselves against forces, altogether, four times your own. You fairly kept at bay
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930963
an infantry force of twice your own number. You have withstood a charge of cavalry, also double your own strength; and have performed the unusual feat of successfully charging cavalry. You have inflicted a very heavy loss upon the enemy. Not less than forty of the infantry must have been placed hors de combat; and fifteen or twenty of the
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930964
cavalry, at the lowest estimate. Altogether, although forced to fall back, the affair is more creditable than many a brilliant victory. "Our own loss has been heavy--as heavy, in proportion to our numbers, as that of the enemy--though, owing to an advantage of position, while engaged with the infantry, it is actually far less than theirs. Still, lads, it is
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930965
very, very heavy," and the major looked round, with a saddened face, on the diminished band. "Our only consolation is that our friends have died doing their duty, and setting a noble example. If all Frenchmen were but animated with a spirit like that which, I am proud to say, animates the franc tireurs of Dijon, there are few of
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930966
the invaders who would ever recross the Rhine. "Lieutenant Ribouville, go through the muster roll of the two companies. Our brave friend De Maupas has, alas! fallen. He was at my side when a rifle ball struck him, in the temple." The list was now called over, and the result was a sad one. The two companies, including officers, had
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930967
gone into the fight fifty-five strong. Only thirty-one answered to their names. Besides these, eight had been removed farther into the forest, severely wounded; and Philippe Duburg lay a short distance off--the surgeon being employed bandaging his leg, which a rifle ball had entered, above the knee. Fifteen, therefore, were dead or missing--which, as the Germans bayoneted all wounded franc
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930968
tireurs, was the same thing. Of the thirty-one who answered to their names, nine had wounds more or less severe; and the surgeon, with his assistants, had work on his hands which would take him far into the night. The instant that they were dismissed from parade, the boys hurried to their cousin. He was very pale from loss of
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930969
blood, but was perfectly sensible. His brother sat on a bench beside him, holding his head on his knee. Philippe smiled faintly as the boys came up. "I am so glad you have escaped," he said, in a low voice. They clasped his hand. "Does it hurt you much, Philippe?" "Not very much; not so much as I should have
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930970
thought." "Did the doctor say anything about it, Philippe?" "Yes, he said that it had just missed the great arteries; and that he thinks it struck the bone, and has glanced up somewhere; but he can't say till he probes it, when--" "Then your leg is not broken?" "No, he says it is certainly not broken, but it may be
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930971
splintered." "Thank God for that, anyhow," the boys said. "We owe his life to Tim Doyle," Louis said. "I was not next to him; and did not see him fall, or know he was hit till I saw Tim come up, with him on his shoulders--and even if I had, I could not have lifted him, and carried him off.
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930972
Tim saved his life. There is no doubt about that." As it was evident that Philippe was too weak to talk, and would be better for being quiet awhile, the boys now left him with his brother. Looking through the trees towards the village, a dense smoke could now be seen rising in several places and, in a few minutes,
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930973
the whole village was in a blaze. Moved by the sight, the unfortunate inhabitants came out from their hiding places in the forest; wringing their hands, crying, and cursing the invaders. In spite of the advice of Major Tempe, several of the women went off towards the scene of conflagration, to endeavor to save some little household treasure from the
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930974
flames. In a short time one of them returned to fetch her husband, saying that the enemy had all left before they reached the village, and were already far down the hillside. Major Tempe at once sent forward the unwounded men; to assist the villagers to put out the fire, and to save property. Their efforts were, however, altogether unavailing;
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930975
the Germans had scattered large quantities of petroleum, before leaving, upon the beds and such other furniture as they could not carry away, or destroy. It was a pitiable sight to see the poor homeless people sitting about, looking at the ruins of their houses. Some cried piteously; others gazed with listless faces, but with a cold despair even more
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930976
painful to see. Fortunately, they had saved all their animals but, at present, they were too much absorbed in the thoughts of what they had lost, to bestow even a thought of satisfaction on what they had saved. Major Tempe, grieved and touched at the painful scene of which he and his men had been the cause, called the franc
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930977
tireurs together; and made a proposition to them, which was at once heartily agreed to. He then called together the cure and schoolmaster and--after a few well-chosen words of regret, at the ills which he and his had involuntarily brought upon the village--he handed over to them, in the name of the whole corps, the hundred pounds in thaler notes
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930978
which had been found upon the schoolmaster whom they had executed for treachery; to be distributed among the inhabitants, according to their necessities. The offer was gratefully received, and the priest and schoolmaster at once went round and told the poor people, whose gratitude and delight were unbounded. To so poor a population, the sum seemed immense; and although it
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930979
would not replace what was destroyed, it would go far towards making their abodes habitable. The village only contained about twenty houses. The walls were still standing. Timber for the roofs and floors was to be had for cutting, in the forest. Bushes for thatching could be found in abundance. The principal portion of the houses, therefore, would cost only
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930980
labor, and this money would suffice to keep them alive, while engaged upon it; and enough would remain to get at least a few blankets to lay upon the straw--which would, for the time, serve for beds--together with a few other simple necessaries. The sale of a portion of the animals would do the rest and, in their gratitude to
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930981
the franc tireurs, for having thus relieved their first and most pressing difficulties, the inhabitants altogether forgot the ill-feeling which they had before felt against them, as the authors of their disaster. After burying their dead, the men set to work to assist the villagers in building temporary huts--or rather bowers--to the edge of the forest; in which, before nightfall,
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930982
they had the satisfaction of seeing them installed. The few articles of bedding, blankets, etc. saved at the approach of the Prussians were spread on heaps of freshly-cut grass; and one of the oxen of the franc tireurs, which had arrived the day before, was killed and divided. Great fires were lighted and--had it not been for the bandages on
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930983
the heads, and the arms in slings of several of the franc tireurs--no one coming upon the scene would have guessed how desperate a skirmish had raged here. The next day the carts which had been sent for arrived; and the wounded were placed in them, upon heaps of straw, and sent off with one of the surgeons; with instructions
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930984
to travel among the hills, until they reached a point where it would be quite safe to descend into the valley, and take the train to Dijon, at the first station at which it was open. Among them was Philippe Duburg, who was accompanied by his brother. Louis had obtained a week's leave of absence, for the purpose; and was
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930985
the bearer of letters, and innumerable messages, from the boys to their parents and sisters. A few hours later, the remnants of the first and second companies marched to join their comrades. : The Bridge Of The Vesouze. The very day after the fight, news arrived which induced a sudden change of position. Upon the Sixteenth of September the Baden
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930986
troops occupied Mulhouse, having entered Colmar on the preceding day. It was evident that the railway was so strongly guarded, between Strasburg and Nancy, that it was hopeless to expect to be able to interrupt it, seriously, with so small a force as that at Major Tempe's command; still less possible was it to render any assistance, whatever, to the
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930987
doomed city of Strasburg. After taking counsel, therefore, with his officers, Major Tempe decided to march more to the south; so as to assist to oppose the passage of the enemy west from Colmar, or Mulhouse, through the passes of the Vosges. The alarm was, however, but temporary for, having made requisitions as usual, the Prussians retired; and the corps
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930988
returned to their old quarters. There another ten days passed; spent not in ease, but in constant marchings and counter-marchings. Whenever news arrived that any parties of Uhlans were approaching the mountains, with the object of making requisitions, the corps were instantly set in motion. Sometimes severe skirmishes were the result. Sometimes the news turned out to be untrue and,
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930989
after a long day's march, and a night spent watching, the men had nothing to do but to march back again. Upon the 28th came the news of the surrender of Strasburg, upon the preceding day, after one of the most heroic defenses in history. There was now no doubt that the Germans would, ere long, advance seriously. By this
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930990
time, the total of the French forces among the Vosges mountains was considerable. Scarce a day passed without the arrival of a corps of franc tireurs and--had all these corps been animated with a spirit such as that evinced by the franc tireurs of Dijon; and had they acted in unity, with discipline and intelligence--they might have rendered immense services
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930991
to France. Unfortunately, this was very far from being the case. Very many of the men had entered the ranks only to avoid being called upon to go out with the Mobiles--or mobilized national guard. Others had only entered from the impulse of the moment. Very many were altogether unwilling to submit to any steady discipline while, in a great
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930992
number of cases, the corps were completely paralyzed from the utter incapacity of their officers. Owing to these various causes, the corps of franc tireurs distinguished themselves, in a great number of cases, only by the extreme ingenuity and foresight which they displayed in keeping at a prudent distance from the enemy. Some, too, earned a bad name not only
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930993
for themselves, but for the whole body of franc tireurs, by their conduct towards the villagers; helping themselves freely to what they required, and making themselves almost as much dreaded by the peasantry as even the Germans, themselves. At the same time the villagers had, in very many cases, only themselves to blame for the rough measures adopted by the
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930994
franc tireurs; for often, instead of doing all in their power for the men who had taken up arms in the cause of France, the villagers looked upon them only as strangers, out of whom the richest possible harvest was to be obtained; and charged the most exorbitant prices for all articles of necessity supplied to them. In fact, they
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930995
sometimes did not hesitate to say that they would not provide them, at any price, with the provisions required; as these would be wanted to satisfy the requisition of the Germans, upon their arrival. Perhaps in the whole world there is no class of people so completely engrossed by the thought of gain as are the French bourgeois, and rustic
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930996
population. Every change of Government, every political alteration, every law passed, is regarded by them simply, and solely, from the view of how it will affect their own pockets. Thus, instead of driving away their flocks and herds, at the approach of the invaders; the people remained quietly in their houses, and shamelessly trafficked with the invaders. This apathy, faint
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930997
heartedness, and want of patriotism, upon the part of the inhabitants of the small towns and villages, caused innumerable difficulties to the franc tireurs; and Major Tempe was sometimes obliged to take the law into his own hands, when the villagers absolutely refused to sell provisions, or to give quarters to his men. In these cases he summoned the priest,
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930998
the schoolmaster, and two other head men of the place, and formed a committee with them and his own officers. These fixed a fair price upon the articles required, and Major Tempe then sent round a notice to the effect that, if these articles were furnished in two hours, they would be paid for at the agreed rates; but that
60
gutenberg
twg_000012930999
if not furnished, he should quarter his men upon the inhabitants, in accordance with the size of their houses, and should remain there at least a week--a threat that never failed in producing the required effect. It was but seldom, however, that the major encountered any difficulties of this sort. The corps was, for the most part, composed of men
60
gutenberg