The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-12-04


= you crow pale"
) "'Tis with impatience !" muttered Perazzi.
7 Hush, we shall be overheard. Not breath I'LL
give the word !"
The devoted little band entered the wood.
! As he first caught glimpse Of them. Perszzi
signed eagerly 10 Brsndensteiu, turned his
r horse, and fastened 10 lead his pairy to the az.
saut.
: Scarce had Gustavus reached the middle Of
t the plain, when on all sides the enemy rushed
upon him. A moment he stood appalled,; he
! turned to retreat, but was met by the traitor
Quinii at the head his Imperial cuirassieIs;
and the desperate certainty flashed upon him
that no course was left, but 10 die fighting.
{ The brave Swedes. resolved 10 sacrifice life
{ in defence of their behaved monarch, formed
circle about him, and murderous strife began;
the desperate band in danger not of being shot
{ down with arms in hand, but of being crushed
and trodden to the earth by the overwhelming
mass Of the enemy. Perazzi saw the strait Of
+ the imprisoned monarch. who had scarce room
TO lift his weapon; eagerly he spuued his horse
forward, shooting Of at random as he dashed
on, one of his pistols and his carbine. That
shot Was ths kings salvation Hepburn, all
ears for aught that concerned his monarch,
heard the unexpected sound as if smitten bya
thundrrdolt; and shouting" Forward, com
radcs forward piein edriere the king is 10
danger came furously to the rescue.
Yield thee, sir king !" cried Quin,i to the
noble warrior. "Traitor !" was the reply from
+ soldier near. "lhou ar not worthy TO die by
, the hand of Gustayus :" aud the Italian fell to
the ground but in his fall grasping his pistol,
he shot the kings horse in the neck. The
, stately animal fell. aud Gus,avns with him.
1 On foot as he now was, the monarch still fought
with his characteristic in,repidity. though
hopeless, for salvation seemed impossible
, dealing blows right and left. with lightning
r swillpess. so as IN some measure to clear the
a space around him.. Deep was his grief, and
fierce his anger. as one by one his soldiers fell
I around him, each buried beneath heap Of
slain foes. Nine were left unscathed on their
. horses. yet so close was the deadly struggle
that none could offer his ste.d 10 the king. who
, had been hitherto unknown TO the enemy. his
simple attire being the same as that Of his Off
GERS. His person was now recognised, Donat
seized him by the upfted right arm, and Civ
! ing his horse the spur, slrove 10 drag him from
F, the narrow circle OF his friends, who rushed al
ter him will, cries Of rage and despair. Three
. fell, bathed in blood, at his very feet; but an
h encouraging shout on the left announced un-
:. expected succour. Hepburn, at the head Of
!, his seventy horsemen, gallopped to the spot /;
n in advance Of his men, his horse covered with
: blood and foam, the young officer dashed alone
into the thickest Of the fray, and reached the
e kings side in time TO strike down the arm Of
Donai with his csrbine and burl him TO the
ground. Seizng the bride OF the fallen Aus
' triaD, he aided the monarch TO mount his horse,
| while his soldiers dealt with the desperate enc
: my shielding his master with his own body,
and with almost superhuman exertioDs stem
ming the beadlong tide. ill Gusiavus was
mounted and saved The fortune Of the fight
was changed, and though the force Of the Inn
perialists was still oyerw whelniiDg, the furious
charge Of the Fin!anders in the desperate con
nict Of few moments, soon thrust them from
their ground. Hepburn rushed like storm
upon the leader Brandenstein, who staggered.
wounded, and was fain TO give way; his men
did their duty all was wild confusion; shouts,
cries, aud the groans Of the dying, mingled in
stunning uproar. Az last Perazzl, whose
sword was broken. and who had narrowly es- (
capped death by shot through his head piece,
gave signal for retreat, THE Devil fights for
the rascals Holy mother protect us ~ he
cried. and rode from the field.
| Gustayus had been urged iorcibly from the
tbcke,t Of the strife, and now Tor the first mo-
ment found leisure 10 lIft his helmet and wipe
the hot sweat from his brow. Those who sur
vived the conflict, gallopcd after him, leaving
the ground literally covered With dead and dy
ing; others wounded aud weary, followed at Z
slower pace. The bold and hardy Doriherners
had won victory matched IN history only by
that under Spsrscus.
"Where i, our cap'ain-wherc is Hepburn -
cried the king, as he glanced mournfuily AT the
sad remnant Of that gallant troop; 9" is he too
missingl God Of heaven all gone who were
true 10 mel Back. comrades your leader
must not be left. II he be prisoner, by my
crown, FIVE hundred prisoners shall 90 for him"
L., (e~ they ~ a o at a N fle hat
tie ground. The gallant youth lay stretched
on the bloody SOIL amidst heaps of slaughisred
foes. His right hand held in coDvulsve grasp
the sword that had saved his king his left
| clutched an Imperial standard torn from the
enemy the staff broken. the colors stained with
the blood that flowed from numerous wounds
~ his side, his face, with closed eyes, was Turn
ed towards heaven. and still wore smile oi ex-
utation. Gustsyus sprang from his horse and
kneelcd beside the body; be sought not to sup
press the tears that started TO his eyes. The
king ~eeps," whispered the soldiers one 10 an
other, and in silent awe IN, whole troop dis
mounted aud uncovered their heads. Even
their horses. as II knowing by instinct that a he
m wept Tor = hero. stood quietly, and not q rus
lie disturbed the s0lemnity Of the scene, till
Gustavus rose, aud asked II there was none
ready TO bear the unfortunate youth back to
the csmp, that he might have the honors OF
war IN hI. burial Il
/ Then elsshing few the swords from every
sheath. and the soldiers lifted their weapons to-
wards bsa,en, aud vowed TO syenge their leader
on the ueu day Of battle. Fastening by two
and Two the swords together. with ihe assistance
of willow boughs they constructed rnds bier.
on which saddle cloths were laid. and in them
they deceuty folded the body Of their officer.
Amer a weary march, during which Gusiavus,
brooding and melancholy. LEFT not the bier Tor
a moment, they reached the place Of their
mornings oncampmcni some remaining be-
hind to bury the slain and remove their wound
ed friends.
The rpmor Of The eng cement and the he
rni.m OF The Einlanders soon spread the ciii- !