The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-05-09

turned, poor fellows, in ten minutes or
so, we saw no more of the captain till
evening. On came the French in their
last charge. Ere they could close
with us, the sailors had fired their
field-pieces thrice, and we could see
wide avenues opened among them with
each discharge. But on they came.
Our bayonets crossed and clashed with
theirs fo- one half-minute; and in the
next they we're hurled hesdlong down
the declivity, and We we're fighting
among them pell-mell. There are few
troops superior to the French, master,
in first attack, but they want Tho
bottom of the British; and, now that
we had broken them in the moment of
their onset, they had no chance with
us, and we pitched our bayonets into
them as if they had been so many
sheaves in harvest. They lay in some
places three and four tiers deep, for
our blood was up, MASTER just as
they advanced on us, we had heard of
the death of our general, and they
neither asked for quarter nor got it,
All, the good and gallant Sir Ralph
We all felt as if we had lost a father (;
but he died as the brave best love to
die. The field was all our own, and
not a Frenchman remained who was
not dead or dying. That action, mas
ter, fairly broke the neck Of their pow
er in Egypt.
"Our colonel was severely wounded,
as l have told you, early in the morn
ing; but, though often enough urged
to retire, he had held out all day, and
issued his orders with all the GOODNESS
and decision for which he was so re-
markable; bat now that the excite
ment of the fight was over, his strength
failed him at once and he had to be
carried to his tent. lie called for
Bill to assist in bearing him off. I
believe it was merely that he might
have an opportunity Of speaking to
him. He told him that whether he
died or lived he would take care that
he should be provided for. He gave
Captain Turpic charge, too, that he
should keep a warm side to Bill. !
overheard our major say to the cap
tain, as weleft the tent, Good heav-
ems did you ever see two men liker
one another than the colonel and our
new sergeant!' But the captain care
lessly remarked that the resemblance
didn't strike him.
" The battle of the DIST broke, as
| have said, the strength of the French
in Egypt; for though they didn't sur
render to US until about five months
after, they kept snug behind theil
walls, and we saw little more of them
They had a trick Of raising hideous
outcry in the market-place for every
trife,-certain, dye see, of attracting
the notice of some of our officers, who
were all sure to take part with them
The market, master, had to be en-
couraged at all events, and it was
some time ere the tricks Of the rascals
were understood in the proper quarter
= But, to make short, Bill and | wen
out one morning to our walk. W.
, had just heard, and heavy news i
was to the whole regiment,-that oul
colonel was despaired of, and had M
chance Of seeing out the day. Bill
g was in miserably low spirits. Captain
g Turpic had insulted him most grossl,
that morning. So long as the colone
| had been expected to recover, he hat
shown him some degree Of ciyility
e but he now took every opportunity o
, picking quarrel with him. Their
S was no comparison in battle, master
0 between Bill and the captain; for tn
n captain, / suspect, was little bette
S than a coward but then there wa
e just as little on parade the other way
: for Bill, you know, couldn't know
It great deal, and the captain was pei
= feet martinez. He had called him va
!, grant and beggar, master, for omit
o ting some little piece of duty. Now
If he couldn't help having been with az
p you know; and as for beggary, he ha
g never begged in his life. Well, W
had walked out towards the marke
l as say.
|, "' It's all nonsense, Jack, says h,
to be so dull on the matter; I'll e'e
Il treat you to some fruit. ! have S
y Gillian dollar here. See that lazy fe
}! low with the spade lying in front, al
v the burning mountain smoking behir
III him: we must see if he can't dig o,
for us few prdns' worth of dates
)r "Well, master, up he went to a tai
IN thin, rascally-looking Arab, with Oh
ir eye, and bought as much fruit fro
l. him as might come to one-tenth of Il
dollar which he gave him, and thu
-. Lo11 o,,4 liz bo,J fo, +J,o oborrro d