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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 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 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 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 and, posting themselves among some trees by its side, awaited the return of the Uhlans.
Out upon 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 distinct fires."
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 brought them to the village of Still; lying high upon the western slope of the Vosges, above Mutzig.
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 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 boys ran out. Below, a mass of red flame was rising; and it was evident that several houses were in flames.
"I could take a double-barrel shotgun up to that hotel and get nine with each barrel around in them hallways; the shot wouldn't have to be rammed, either; 'twouldn't have to scatter so blamed much." "Oh, well, them society sports there's got to be some of them " "Yes, and the way they make 'em reminds me of what Dal Mutzig tells about the time they started Pasco.
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 parties from Molsheim, where a portion of the army of the besiegers was stationed.
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