The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-03-06

look at my man. He and his companion.
sentry under the other arch were aware
of officers in "mufti" on the opposite side
walk, and kept their eyes immovable tc
the 'front.' Evidently nothing much short
of an earthquake could cause either to
relax a muscle. The little circle of ad.
miring beholders which is always on hand
inspecting these splendid horsemen were
present, of course, with varying elements
and | had to wait a few minutes until q
small number of innocuous spectators
conceded with the aphelion of the peri.
odical policeman.
1t was not pleasant thing to contem-
plate that tower of polished leather brass
and steel, with a man inside of it some
forty pounds heavier than |, and think
that in a minute or so we two should
be engaged in close grapple whose
termination involved considerable risk
for me physically as we'll as pecuniarily
However, there was, in addition to the
feeling of apprehension, a touch OF citation
at the thought that l, a lone Yankee, was
about to beard the British lion in his most
formidable shape, almost under the walls
of Buckingham Palace.
| looked my antagonist carefully over
deciding several minor points in my mind,
and then at favorable moment stepped
quietly within striking distance, and de-
livered sharp blow with my stick on his
left instep, as far forward as | could with
out hitting the stirrup. The man seemed
to be in sort of military trance, for he
never WINGED. Quick as thought, re-
peated the blow. and this time the fellow
fairly yelled with rage, establishment and
pain. have since made up my mind that
his nerve-fbre must have been of that
inert sort which transmits waves of sensa-
tons but slowly, so that The PERCEPTION OF
the first blow reached the interior of his
helmet Just about rs the second descended
At all events, he .jerked back his foot, and
somehow, between the involuntary con-
traction of his tlexor muscles from pain
and the glancing of my stick, his foot
slipped from the stirrup. This, as l had
learned from my instructor, was great
point gained, and in an instant | had him
by the ankle and by the top Of his jack
boot, doubling his leg, at the same time
heaving nightly upward.
AS | gave my whole strength to the
effort | was dimly aware of screams and
panic among the nursery-maids and chill
dren who were but a moment before my
fellow-spectators. At the same time
caught the flash of the Churchman's sabre
as he cut down at me after the fashion
prescribed in the r}roadswOrd exercise.
Fortune, however, did not desert me. My
antagonist had not enough elbow-room
and his sword-point was shivered against
the stone arch overhead, the blade de-
scendng railways and harmlessly upon
my well protected shoulder Just as, with
a final effort, | tumbled him out of his
saddle.
The recollection of the ludicrous figure
which that Guardsman cut haunts me
still. His pipeclayed gloves clutched wild
ly at holster and cantle as he went over.
Down came the cleaning helmet crashing
upon the pavement, and with a calamitous
rattle and bang the whole complicated
structure Of corselet scabbard, cross belts,
spurs and boots went into the inside cor
ner Of the archway a helpless heap.
That started the horse. The noble ami
NAL had stood my assault as steadily as
if he had been cast In bronze, but precise
y such an emergency rs this had never
been contemplated in his training, as it
had not in that OF his master, and he now
started forward rather wildly. I had my
hand on the bride before he had moved a
| lOoi, anu oN uuE sui llttIi ofCt Hto DflIh
as he dashed across the sidewalk and up
Whitehall. The Guards saddles are very
easy when cnce you are in them. and
had reason, temporarily at least, to APP
prove the English style of riding with
short stirrups, for | readily found my
seat, and ascertaned that could touch
bottom with my toes. AS left the scene
of my victory behind me | heard the
guards turning out, and caught glimpse
as of all London running in my direction,
but by the time that | had secured the
control of my horse had distanced the
crowd, and as we entered the Strand we
attracted comparatively little notice In
driving, the English turn out to the lett
instead Of to the right, as is the custom here,
and | was obliged to cross the westward
bound line of vehicles before | could fall
in with that which would bring me to my
boys. decided to make a ''carom" of it,
and nearly took the heads off pair OF
horses, and the pole off the omnibus tc
through Turning to the right, | soon
lost the torrent of invective hurled aftel
me by the driver and conductor of the
discomforted bus, and in less than two
mnutes-which seemed to me an age, fol
the pursuit was drawing near-I reached
my boys, dropped them half SOW apiece
which had ready in my hand, and bolted
for my hairdresser's, the boys leading the
horse in the opposite direction, as previ-
ously ordered
1t was none too soon, for as | ran ul
stairs ! saw three or four policeman run
ming toward the horse, and there was 6
CLEAN of dancing plumes and shining hel
NETS toward Whitehall. My false beard
and complexion were changed with mar
velous rapidity, and assuming my prone
made costume, | sauntered down stairs
and out upon the sidewalk in time to SEE
the whole street jammed with a crowd o.
excited Britons, while the recaptured horse
: was turned over to the Guardsmen, an(
, the two boys were marched off to Bow
street for examination before magis
trate.
A private room and an elaborate dinner
at the United Service Club closed the day
J and must admit that my military friends
r swallowed their evident chagrin with
very good grace. OF course | was toll
: that could not do it again, which
: readily admitted; and that there was no
$ another man in the troop whom coul'
r have unhorsed-an assertion which / a
e prrSlStently cOnOdteu. ne aIIalr wa
s officially hushed up, and probably NO
b more than a few thousand people eve
h heard of it outside military circles.
2 How I escaped arrest and punishmen
to the extent of the law did not know
a for many years, for the Duke of yelling
r ton, who was then commander-in-chiet
It had only to order the officers concerned
: under arrest, and | should have been i
v honor bound to come forward with vo
a untary confession.
! My giant was sent for to the old duke
s private room the day after his overtime,
n and questioned sharply by the adjutan
a who, with pardonable incredulity, su;
l. pected that bribery alone could hav
h brought about so direful catastrophe
n The duke was from the first convinced {
the soldiers honesty and bravery, an
e presently broke in upon the adiutant
h examination with--"Well. we'll speak
y me now. What have you to say for you
d self ?"
n MAY it please yer ludship," said tn
v undismayed soldier, "Ive never fought