-
Articles/Ads
Article SANTERRE. * ← Page 13 of 15 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Santerre. *
" There was a fearful tumult in tho house ; and evidentl y the combatants fought with fury . Few gun-shots were now fired , but instead there was a clashing of swords , and cries which made one ' s hair stand on end , proving to me that the banditti were struggling with the officers . " The sound of persons endeavouring to escape rendered me
more attentive , and as they appeared to be approaching on our side , I told my men to hold themselves in readiness to arrest the fugitives . Three rascals rushed out like runaway horses , and soon fell into our hands , in spite of their resistance . I then ventured into the yard , and saw a group of gens d ' armes , four or five at least , struggling with desperation against a single
robber , who appeared to give them plenty of trouble ; a cry of triumph at length announced that he was conquered , to which I responded . ' Fire ! fire ! a light here ! ' shrieked a voice , which I recognised as that of the quartermaster , while three men bound the brigand with ropes , whom they had succeeded in throwing clown . Seven or eight gens d ' armes now came out of the house
with lights , and my eyes then beheld the most frightful spectacle it was possible to conceive . Many bleeding bodies were . lying on the ground , some dead , others wounded , equally those of the conquerors and the conquered . " All the brigands had their heads covered with a sort of hood of black linen , only leaving the eyes visible ; they were dressed in the blouse of the common order .
" ' We have got them at last , ' said the quartermaster on perceiving me ; ' but there is one scoundrel , who has given us plenty to do ; he has the strength of a horse ; look , sir , he has twisted my bayonet as if it were a pewter spoon , and without the help of my comrades , the beggar would have strangled me with his two jrincers , without giving me time to count ten . But
now his billet is settled , look you , he will be none the worse for the blood he is losing . I don ' t trouble myself about it ; be sure there will be enough left in him to enable him to salute the fish-market . ' This was a popular saying in use among the lower class in Amiens , and which owed its-origin to the place in which the scaffold was erected ; as the fatal collar which
surrounded the throat of the condemned was placed opposite to the fish-market , the head , in falling , appeared to bow to it . " ' Now get up , scoundrel , ' cried the quartermaster , assisting the gens d ' armes to set the brigand upon his feet , ' and let us see your hang-gallows face , ' added he , tearing off the black headdress which hid his countenance . Imagine my astonishment
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Santerre. *
" There was a fearful tumult in tho house ; and evidentl y the combatants fought with fury . Few gun-shots were now fired , but instead there was a clashing of swords , and cries which made one ' s hair stand on end , proving to me that the banditti were struggling with the officers . " The sound of persons endeavouring to escape rendered me
more attentive , and as they appeared to be approaching on our side , I told my men to hold themselves in readiness to arrest the fugitives . Three rascals rushed out like runaway horses , and soon fell into our hands , in spite of their resistance . I then ventured into the yard , and saw a group of gens d ' armes , four or five at least , struggling with desperation against a single
robber , who appeared to give them plenty of trouble ; a cry of triumph at length announced that he was conquered , to which I responded . ' Fire ! fire ! a light here ! ' shrieked a voice , which I recognised as that of the quartermaster , while three men bound the brigand with ropes , whom they had succeeded in throwing clown . Seven or eight gens d ' armes now came out of the house
with lights , and my eyes then beheld the most frightful spectacle it was possible to conceive . Many bleeding bodies were . lying on the ground , some dead , others wounded , equally those of the conquerors and the conquered . " All the brigands had their heads covered with a sort of hood of black linen , only leaving the eyes visible ; they were dressed in the blouse of the common order .
" ' We have got them at last , ' said the quartermaster on perceiving me ; ' but there is one scoundrel , who has given us plenty to do ; he has the strength of a horse ; look , sir , he has twisted my bayonet as if it were a pewter spoon , and without the help of my comrades , the beggar would have strangled me with his two jrincers , without giving me time to count ten . But
now his billet is settled , look you , he will be none the worse for the blood he is losing . I don ' t trouble myself about it ; be sure there will be enough left in him to enable him to salute the fish-market . ' This was a popular saying in use among the lower class in Amiens , and which owed its-origin to the place in which the scaffold was erected ; as the fatal collar which
surrounded the throat of the condemned was placed opposite to the fish-market , the head , in falling , appeared to bow to it . " ' Now get up , scoundrel , ' cried the quartermaster , assisting the gens d ' armes to set the brigand upon his feet , ' and let us see your hang-gallows face , ' added he , tearing off the black headdress which hid his countenance . Imagine my astonishment