PAGE 5
The Pipe Of War
by
In fact, the storm passed over, doing much less damage than was expected. The villagers collected in large groups to view the passing troops. The cavalry came first, then a long column of infantry.
Hansgeorge had gone to the brick-yard with his comrades Xavier and Fidele: he wished to be near Kitty in case of emergency. The three stood in the garden before the house, leaning upon the fence, Hansgeorge calmly smoking his pipe. Kitty looked out of the window and said, “George, if you’ll stop smoking you may come into the house with your friends.”
“Wo are quite comfortable here, thank you,” replied Hansgeorge, sending up three or four whiffs in quick succession.
On came the cavalry. They rode in entire disorder, each apparently occupied with himself alone; and nothing showed that they belonged together save the common interest manifested in any deviltry undertaken by any one of them. Several impudently kissed their hands to Kitty,–at which Hansgeorge grasped his jack-knife and Kitty quickly closed the sash. The infantry were followed by the forage-wagons and the pitiable cavalcade of the wounded and dying. This was a wretched sight. One of them stretched forth a hand which had but four fingers. This curdled Hansgeorge’s blood in his veins: it seemed to him as if he himself were lying there. The poor sufferer had nothing but a kerchief round his head, and seemed to shiver with cold. Hansgeorge jumped over the fence, pulled off his fur cap, and set it on the poor man’s head; then he gave him his leathern purse with all the money in it. The poor fellow made some signs with his mouth, as if he wished to smoke, and looked beseechingly at Hansgeorge’s pipe; but the latter shook his head. Kitty brought some bread and some linen, and laid them on the cart. The maimed warriors looked with pleasure on the blooming lass, and some made her a military salute and garbled some broken German. No one asked whether they were friends or foes: the unfortunate and helpless have a claim on every one.
Another troop of cavalry brought up the rear. Kitty stood at the window again, while Hansgeorge and his comrades had returned to their post at the garden-gate. Suddenly Fidele exclaimed, “Look out: the marauders are coming.”
Two ragged fellows in half-uniform, without saddle or stirrup, came galloping up. While yet a few yards off, they stopped and whispered something to each other, at which one of them was heard to laugh. They then rode up slowly, the one coming very near the fence. Quick as a flash he tore the pipe out of Hansgeorge’s mouth, and galloped off at the top of his horse’s speed. Putting the still-burning pipe into his mouth, he puffed away merrily in derision. Hansgeorge held his chin with both his hands: every tooth seemed to have been torn out of his jaw. Kitty laughed heartily, crying, “Go get your pipe, Hansgeorge: I’ll let you smoke now.”
“I’ll get it,” said Hansgeorge, breaking a board of the fence in his fury. “Come, Fidele, Xavier; let’s get our horses out and after them: I won’t let the rascals have my pipe, if I must die for it.”
His two comrades went away and took the horses out of the stable. Kitty came running over, however, and called Hansgeorge into the house. He came reluctantly, for he was angry with her for laughing at him; but she took his hand, trembling, and said, “For God’s sake, Hansgeorge, let the pipe alone. I’ll do any thing to please you if you’ll only mind me now. How can you let them kill you for such a good-for-nothing pipe? Do stay here, I beg of you.”
“I won’t stay here! I don’t care if they do send a bullet through my head! What should I stay here for? You never do any thing but tease me.”
“No, no!” cried Kitty, falling upon his neck: “you must stay here! I won’t let you go.”