A FRENCH FRONTIER STORY.

Colonist, Volume XXX, Issue 5024, 6 October 1887, Page 4

A FRENCH FRONTIER STORY.

Recently the adventures were related of a Prussian soldier who, having deserted from the Kaiser's army, made his appearance in full uniform in the streets of Nancy for the purpose of enrolling himself in the Foreign Legion. A sergeant belonging to the sth Battalion of Rifles, which is stationed on the Fren3h frontier, has just returned the compliment. Having got into a scrape, atd having the fear of the lock-up before his eyes, he tripped across the boundary line when he thought nobody was iooking, and after walking a good mile, turned into a farmhouse to rest and refresh himself. It happeued that he had-been perceived by a party of French youths, who, moreover, noticed that he had carried his liQe away with him. Convinced that this was one of the intended to present it to Germany, the young men formed the project of recovering possession oi it. They therefore stepped boldly across the frontier, and, keeping the deserter well in view, followed him into the farmhouse. They got into conversation with the chasseur, and after a time succeeded in persuading him to bring down his rifle from a bedroom upstairs, in which it had already been placed. Then the youths, pretending that they were going to drill for fun, made their way into the farmyard, and, as soon as they secured a good start, bolted. The deserter and the people of the farm rushed after them, raising a hue and cry, and coon a,.,regular hunt .was organised, in whieffthe peasantry,* the Customs Officials, and some German officers who-were passing by, joined. But the young men maintained their advantage and got safely back into France with the Rifle in their possession. They modestly sent it (the weapon) in a case with an explanatory note to the local gendarmes, who were astounded when they found what a narrow eEcape one of the new rifles had had of finding its way into German hands. ;