The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-05-18

$500 --- 80 - - 49, -------.--'
away their arms. and rushed bars.,He>l.d
uPou the foe. IN the frenzy Of a,.raig.
The Battalion dead. This old war-dog,
lettering on, with MS banner wound about
ms arm, alone remains OF all lis proud ar
lay.
Planting his right foot firmly n,he ceutrr
OF the g,Ade-all hope of flight is vain he
CLUTCHES his short sword with grasp like
death, and elares, ike maddened bull, in
the faces Of bis purSueIs.
/ These Dragons, brave fellows, who have
done noble work IN TO days fight, and who
always dun their helmets when they see
courage, even in foe, rein in their steeds
with one impulse al the sight.
One their number dismuuuts, filings the
rein on the horses neck. and sword in hand
advances. NouSce his short trobuSt form
manilosurg Ia the barred Siuews Of the night
arm, an almost supcrhuman strength. His
Stunt face, with heavy features, short, stiff
hair, and keen grey eyes, announces tHe je-
nacious courage ola bulldog
/ ''LoolS yer, stranger" he cvclaims--
"lou're faint with blood. and had better
y,r.d-tAe old mans won the day, and there
amt no further use for that flag"
lbs comrades, with their stcedS recoiliuC
on their launches, and their ba,te-worn ia
ccs beat iurwatd, aN ait the result Of this
scene, "ith deep suspense.
But, look! The stout old veteran is dy-
ing III, eyes are half closed; be toltcgS to
and fro, sii,l with the Iampico banner
wound about his arm.
The American Dragon, touchedwithV pit.
Y, springs forward to catch hn as he falls.
aId at tie same moment, feels the >huI'
sword ui the old man driven 20 the hilt ~ Ais
breast.
! Ihcp, with awi'dycll, that veteran crash.
cs into the thicket and is gone The dying
dragon breahes in gasps; he clutches the
earth in handfull>, aud rolling slowly on hi.
face stiienS into clay.
You should have seen the expression 0
horror hich sank like a shadow, upon ev
cry face. For a moment not word wa:
spoken. Only an instant ago, that totter
inc old man, with his eye swimming as by
dissolution, and that muscular Dragon, ad
vancins with a look Of pity, to lis aid
Now
There was dead man on the sod. TIL,
= place OF the veteran was vacant; you hea
him youdcr, crashing through the thicket.
barrier OF tEorn> on hor>cback A moment
hurried consultation j, held: young dra
3 COON springs from his stced. and plunge, in
10 the ChapagIal. HIS comrades behold hi
G ja.. form, BIZ >wagthy face. with promnen
features, ,ha'1"Ca by curling black hair
behold him !ur moment only, and lie j
gone.
D On. crashing through that wilderness Q
} ,h0rn,, cutting his way with his sword, o
crawling on hands and knees, guided by til
} echo cf the old soldiers tread, he hurres
his hear; nalpi'aljng with the fever Of re
vcnge. llarI, He ncarS his foc-thcs
footsteps sound heavy and sullcn-the Oh
man is idiutirc from loss OF blood-SOon b
viii lal, and from his dying clutch the vic
tor whlrond the Banner Of the iron band.
Atla,tthey stand face TO face. IN auool
! Of the chaparral, whore the torrents, nov
dried Up, and vanished from the burnt sol
nave lo,mcd 4 deep gully, the young Drag
+ Dozen behold, toe old soldier, leaning apri1>
ilr tsu~ " clay, the banner wound irml
around his right ann, with the hand ST.
clutchiug the fatal short sword.
Il j. sad and pitiable sight. So wea
> with his wounds, so near his death hour. hi
= head sinking on one shoulder. his bcI
knees, bending beneath his massive frame
he glarcs into the face If the DvaGoou. wit
. those CLASSY eyes fired with deadly hatred
The Banner was given 10 him by dyu
d hands ard he will keep it in his death hou
Yield shouted the Ora COON, advancu
with firm tread, his swph graSprd 10y
vigorous arm, while his weil-kuit fgur
: lowered erect, and tac battle flush crimson
ed his face from the chinto the curling dan
hair.
The old man with great effort raise
ID himself. and with his sword before his chr>
his back agaiuStthe bauh, stands on his lie
I fence.
10. For moment they regard one anothc
silently, those classy eyes. fading into c,er
20 nal darkness, glazing upon the fiery eyes ,
;, outh AMI vigar The Dragon drops' hi
y sword
} "You murdered my comrade-ayc, NM
7. dcred him. as me Sprang forward 10 help yor
but cannot kill you. Ncu'll die in a f.,
: minutes, aud ihe Banner viii be mine
lie silently coutcmplatcS hiScXpiring io'
But the old SoAicr-what means that Ion
lcgp heaviug Of the bloody chest? Tn;
a. rouvul,ivc movement ofthc arms? Tn:
" swelling O.. the veins in the throat? lie
preparing all the strength within him, Tor
= desperate effort, yes, with n bound Ike
wounded panther, he darts upon the youu
j UusaDa and piuiouS his throat with thcs
lion fingers, with the deUth.grip Of despC
- rate mau!
" To rwcclho American bochou his knee
o. 20 crush the SinGws Of his lluoat, until o.
y eyes started from their Sackc,S. To- press ID
- owu knees on his cacst,--it was doue III,