The Argosy, January 1906 — page 82: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

264 Von Werner and dashed through the window opening. From various quar- ters of the garden Uhlans could be seen hurrying toward the chateau. Von Werner swallowed his coffee at a gulp and kicked the table out of his wa “Tt is either a crowd of countrymen who imagine they have us in a trap, or some French soldiers have happened this way; in either case you will have a little excitement,” said he coolly. He followed the captain through the window, and Bosworth could see him issuing orders to the Uhlans. Several horsemen, with fluttering black-and- white pennons, appeared from around the corner of the building. The notes of a. bugle rang out across the park. T’rom the window Bosworth watched the animated scene before. him. More mounted men appeared upon the lawn, until the slender poles of the pennoned lances seemed to form a small grove about Von Werner and the captain. Including these, he counted thirty Uhlans, and there were probably others at the gate of the park. Presently Von Werner separated from the group, gave a few hurried or- ders, and walked rapidly back to the chateau. The Uhlans dashed across the park, straight up to the stone wall which separated it from the country without. By standing in the stirrups the riders could just see over the wall. Von Werner stopped before the win- dow. “There are a hundred or so of those fellows out there.” He motioned toward the gate. “On the further side of the chateau are others, and the countrymen are pouring in by threes and dozens. We are going to have a’pretty time of it, my friend.” “But surely,’ ventured Bosworth, “thirty trained soldiers can put to rout five times their number of OES) yokels.” “Tf it was only that, but there are fifty or so regulars out there: it would seem that they have happened in this neighborhood just in time to find us here. We are forty-one; outside are two hundred Frenchmen led by a regular officer. You can see that something is going to happen.” THE ARGOSY. “You will hold the chateau?” sug- gested Bosworth. ~ “ Of course; but in another hour the two hundred will be increased to three —in two hours to five. ‘These French- men are swarming in like bees.” Half a dozen Uhlans approached the window. One, a sergeant, saluted. “Tt is ordered that we occupy the house, and fire down upon the enemy,” said he briefly. “Very well,” answered Von Werner. And to Bosworth: “Of course, you will take no part in this, but if you care to join me at one of the upper windows, you can get a good view of what is going on. Some of our men will hold the gate and the wall; I, with these half-dozen, will at- tack the enemy from the windows.” He stepped through the window and, followed by the half-dozen Uhlans, made for the stairs leading to the second story of the chateau. Bosworth trailed on behind. As his friend had said, some- thing was likely to happen. The park of the chateau was shaped something like a triangle, with the house nearest to the apex. An IL or wing approached within fifty yards of the wall, on the north. Any one stationed at an upper win- dow in this L could look over and along the wall to the main gate of the park, a distance of some two hundred yards. It was also possible to command a good ex- tent of the wall on that side and to fire down upon any person attempting to scale it and enter the grounds. It was into a large room in this L that Von Werner led his Uhlans; two windows overlooked the north, and at each window three of the Prussians took their stand. Von Werner pulled up a table in the. “rear of one of these trios. Having mounted upon it, he produced a small field-glass, coolly adjusted the focus, and took a good look at what was visible from the window. Boswori: was hovering behind the other Uhlans, peering over their shoul- ders; Von Werner turned and called to him. “Come up here alongside me; you can get a good look at some of ‘those fellows,” said he. com chook (E(0) im