The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-08-24

descended in successive echoes. Another
horn replied from the ravine, below.
The troop resumed its march and you.
could hear the hoarse lowing in the
depths Of the defles.
Then two superb oxen came forth un-
der the dome of great oaks. They moved
with that grave and solemn step which
seems to indicate the consciousness of
force, beating the air with their tails,
and sometimes turning their white heads
just touched with red, to look at their
cortege. Then followed slowly long
line of heifers, COWS, goats, lowing,
bleating, and snuffling in way to make
the brave corporal weak for tenderness.
Finally half the village of Echbourg,
women, old men, and children, the for
mer bestriding their old working horses,
the latter at the breast or slung in the
dresses of their mothers. The poor peo-
pie advanced with clatter. They ap-
peared tired, and very melancholy, but
in war one can't always be at ease.
The company spread out upon the
plateau. There were but few laggards
scattered over the side of the ravine. 1t
was the time to strike. Farges and
Lombard exchanged glances in the shade
and departed to give the signal, when a
cry of distress, piercing cry, flew from
mouth to mouth up to the top of the
hill, and froze the whole caravan with
horror.
"The Cossacks The Cossacks!"
Then followed strange scene. Far
ges hastened behind the curtain of foli-
age to give new orders. The quick, dry
noise of loading was heard-then on that
side all was silence.
AS for the peasants they had not
budged; motionless, staring at each 9TH
er with open mouth, having neither the
strength to flee nor the courage to form
a resolution, they appeared the very pic
ture Of terror. The diplomat alone did
not lose his presence of mind, and ran to
crouch down under a rock, in such a
way that one could only see his feet and
the lower part of his legs.
Almost at the same moment, Lombard
recognized, near by, the hoarse cry of
the Cossacks. They were running in
every direction through the copses and
thickets. To see them flying about in
the moonlight upon their little Bessara-
bian horses, whose eyes were on fire,
their nostrils streaming, their names
erect, one would have taken them for a
band of famished wolves surrounding
their prey. The cattle beloved, the
women sobbed, the poor mothers pressed
their babes to their breasts, and the Bas-
kris were all the time contracting the
down on this group. At last they were
concentrated and moved off in line with
wild hurrahs. All at once the dark foli-
age was lighted up as with flash of
lightning, quick firing was heard upon
the plateau, and even the mountain ap-
peared to tremble with surprise. When
the smoke of this discharge had blown
away slightly, the Cossacks were seen in
confusion, seeking to escape in the di-
rection of Graufthaul, but barrier of
impossible rocks was in the way.
"Forward, now! no quarter !" shout
ed the corporal.
The veterans, animated by his voice,
rushed in pursuit of the flying enemy.
The fight was short. Brought to stand
and the verge OF the rock, the soldiers
of Platoff whirled around and charged
with the frenzy of despair. Quick
thrusts with the lance and the bayonet
were exchanged, but in their narrow
quarters the Cossacks could not maneu-
vre their horses, and were soon defeated.
Only one resisted to the end. Large
and spare, with face of dull, coppery
hue, true Mephistopheles in appear
ance, he was covered with several thick
nesses of sheepskins, of which Lombard
relieved him of one at every thrust of
his bayonet.
Coward" he muttered, "I'll finish
you after getting off the leather"
He was mistaken. The Cossack
jumped upon his head and dealt him a
terrible blow with the handle of his pis-
tol on the jaw. The corporal spit out
two teeth, put his gun to his shoulder,
covered the Baskir, and pulled the trig-
ger. But considering that the piece was
not loaded, the other disappeared safe
and sound, shouting q mocking hurrah
as he fled.
Thus the intrepid Lombard, after
twenty-eight years of service and thirty
two campaigns, had his jaw broken by a
savage of Ekaterinaslof who did not
know the first principles of the art OF
war.
"You heather dog!" he yelled with
rage, "if had you here"
Farges, fixing his bayonet, sticky with
blood, looked with astonished eyes
around the plateau. The people of Ech-
bourg had disappeared. Their cattle
were wandering at random in the thick
cts. Some of the goats were climbing
the sides of the hill, and save about
twenty carcasses lying on the ground,
all were enjoying the peaceful calmness
of rural life. The veterans themselves
were surprised at their easy victory, for,
excepting Nicholas Rabeau, the old
drum-major of the 14th of the Line, pro-
vost of arms, dances and French graces
who had the glory of being thrust
through by Cossack and of yielding up
his life on the field of honor, all had es-
capped with no more injury than few
light wounds.
"There, now, comrades" said Farges
"there's no need to abandon ourselves
to any reflections whatever. The ras-
calls OF Cossacks might have interfered
with our plans. Our provisions are al
found for us. Nothing is easier than tc
collect the herd and regain the fort be.
fore the enemy has had time to block
our way"
All set themselves Immediately al
work, and ten minute5 afterward the lit
tie company, driving the cattle before
them, took the road for Hunebeurg.
About six o'clock they were under the
guns of the fort.
One may imagine the satisfaction O
Jean Pierre Noel when, having heard