The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-04-25

A,o,.,s troon were four old Dragons who had &C
ueen the Spanish wars through, and two ci
veteran ouirassiers of the guard whom love OF
danger had attached to the smuggler. Inc
,ammers and short sabres of the artillerymen n
could avail but little against their well'aimes u
tbrpsts each one of which brought man TO d
the earth.
Maro's check was blackened with the powder
of a pistol fred within six inches OF his neau
a bullet passed through his hat; but MS courso
was not staid until his sword pierced tne oi.
officer with the light mustache through anu
tbropob. at one of the cannon. Then, rising Q
slowly in his saddle until his tall ZOE" sa'
erect, he gazed around, and said sententionSiy
"The guns are ours| .
But the scene was terrible; the melee on the
high plateau the shrieks the neighing OF
borses, or their cries of agony; the shouts OF
rage men casting away their arms In wiz
flight for life, an inexorable foe pursuing
| beyond the ravine, ladders crowded with white
uniforms and bristling with bayonets; noun
taineers defending themselves with the neroe
courage Of despair; the sides Of tine SLOPE sne
| road. and the foot of the abatis heaped with |
| dead or wounded writhing in anguish; stiii
further away, the masses OF the enemy
| advancing, with musket on shoulder, ana
officers in the midst urging them on; Old Ma
tsrne, on the crest of the steep, swinging his
olubbed rifle with deadly effect, and shouting
for his son Frantz, who was rushing at full
speed with his command to the fight; jean
q Claude directing the defence; the desfening
|. ! musketry, now in volleys, now rafting ike
a. | some terrible hail-storm; and, rolling above
- all, the vague, weird echoes of mountain ana
valley. All this was pressed into that one mo-
o ment.
20 Marc.Dives was not of q contemplative or
poetic turn of mind, however, and wasted no
i'd time in useless reflections upon the horrors OF
war. glance showed him the position oil
ne affairs, and, springing from his horse, he
g. seized one of the levers of the gun, and in
moment had aimed the yet loaded piece ut the
lie, foot of the ladders. Then he seized o match
m and fred.
DIS Strange cries arose from afar off, and tn
he smuggler gazing through the smoke, saw
He bloody lane in the euemy's ranks. He shoo
ms both his hands above his head exultantly, an
re-, q shout of triumph arose from the breastwork'
ere Dismountp he cried to his men. "Now
our time for action Brsg cartridges and ball
ill from YOUR caissons Load We will sweep tn
W road Ready! Fire"
10 The smugglers applied themselves to tn
work. and shot after shot tore through u
de- white masses. The fire enfladed the rank
DICE and the tenth discharge was at flying foe
"Firei Fire p shouted Marc. And the pa
'ent tisans, reinforced by Frantz, regained the P
was stion they had for moment lost.
10Th And new tho mountan-side was covered on
FOL with dead, wounded, and flying 1t was TO
'hed O'Clock in the evening, and night was fall
pals fast The last cannon-shot fell in the street
! OLD Grandfontaine, and, rebounding, overturD
rave the chimney of the " Red Ok"
Six hundred men had persisted. Many of
tn " mountaineers had fallen, but many more
was the Kaiserliks. Dives cannonade had sa'
must all; for the partisans were not even
eady against ten, and the enemy had almost m
COM ,;sIF ,,ostar of their works
IT,