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Updated: June 26, 2025
It is probable, indeed, that they really anticipated no possibility of an attack, as the Dijon franc tireurs were the first who appeared upon the scene of action; and the Prussians were, consequently, in entire ignorance of the vicinity of any armed body of the enemy and, at worst, apprehended a stray shot from a straggler from one of the French armies, hidden in the woods.
The franc tireurs woke, and leaped to their feet. Percy and Tim were about to do the same, when Ralph held them down. "Lie still," he said, "for your lives." His words were not out of his lips, when a tremendous volley rang out all round them; and half the franc tireurs fell. "Now!" Ralph said, leaping up, "make a rush for a house. "To the houses, all of you," he shouted, loudly.
The doctor in Paris ordered a month, at least, of absolute rest; and has given him a sick certificate." "He needs rest, certainly," Colonel Tempe said, "but he cannot go home, at present. The Prussians hold Dijon in considerable strength. There are far too many people in the town who have heard of your connection with the franc tireurs. Some spy or other would be certain to peach."
The franc tireurs were all lying down, and this gave them a great advantage over the Germans and, the disparity of numbers being less, the fight raged with greater obstinacy than before. Very gradually, the enemy won their way taking advantage of every rock and inequality of ground until they were within two hundred yards of the village.
By this time, the total of the French forces among the Vosges mountains was considerable. Scarce a day passed without the arrival of a corps of franc tireurs and had all these corps been animated with a spirit such as that evinced by the franc tireurs of Dijon; and had they acted in unity, with discipline and intelligence they might have rendered immense services to France.
"It is our only chance. We shall be shot down, here, like sheep." The officer of the franc tireurs had already atoned for his carelessness, by his life; and the men obeyed Ralph's call and, amidst a heavy fire, rushed across the fifty yards of open space to the houses. The door was burst in, with the rush.
"For the last time, Lieutenant von Hersen," the major said, brutally, "I order you to do your duty and, by Heavens, if you speak another word, I will put you in arrest!" The young lieutenant turned silently away, called up twenty men, and ordered them to place the franc tireurs and the peasants against a wall. "This is horrible, Ralph," Percy said.
The affair would have been hot, but it would have been a vital service to France; and the franc tireurs of Dijon would have merited, and obtained, the thanks of all France. It was for the purpose of the attack that the two companies detached from us were recalled. "All promised well for success.
The feeling of disgust was changed to fury when some of the peasants who had fled into the woods, upon the destruction of their abodes reported that the Germans, having found that three of the franc tireurs were only wounded, had dragged them along to the entrance to the village; and had hung them there upon some trees, by the roadside.
In another minute or two four more Uhlans passed; and after the same interval came the main body, escorting a number of cattle and sheep. The greater portion had passed the spot where the boys were lying, and were opposite the whole line of franc tireurs, when the silence of the wood was broken by Major Tempe's shout: "Now!"
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