Weekly Trinity journal. [volume] (Weaverville, Calif.) 1857-1972, 1878-10-05

ball, he gathered his proud form to it,
full height and fell. His face ashy with
intense agony, he bade his comrades tG
leave him there to die. That ravine
should be the bed of his glory.
But gathered around him guard O
breasts of steel, while two of his com
panions bore him along. These men o
Kentucky toughtsround their fallen hero
and, as retreating step by step they
launched their swords and bayonets into
the faces OF their enemies, said with
every blow, Henry Clay I"
1t was wonderful to see how that name
nerved their arms, and called smile to
the face Of the dying hero. How it
would have made the old man of Ash
land throb to have heard his name yelled
as n battle cry dowa the shadows of that
lonely pass.
Along the rsvines and up tho narrow
pass The hero bleeds MS they bear him
on, and tracks the way with his blood. -
Faster and thicker swarm the Mexicans
They see The circle around the fallen man,
even his face upli(ted IA smile crosses
its fading lneamsnts. and like pack OF
wolves scentng the forlorn travelling al
dead of night, they came bowling up
the rock and charged the devoted band
with one dense mass of haysnets
Up aud oa The light shines yonder
on the tempest rock of the ravine. 1t is
the light of setting sun. Old Taylor's
eyes are ON that rock, and there we will
fight our way and die in the old mans
sight.
1t was q murderous way, that path up
the steep bank Of the ravine. Uttered
with dead, slippery with blood, it grew
bncker every moment with MeXicans,
aud the defenders OF the wounded hero
fell, one by one. into the chasm yawnng
around.
At last they reached the light, tn,
sword, and bnyonets glitter in the sigh
OF the contending armies, and the bloody
contest lears toward the topmost rock.
Then il was that, gathering up his dy-
ing torm-armed with supernatural vigo
young Clay started from tho arms o
/ his supporters and stood with outstretch-
ed hands in tho light of the setting sun
1t vas n glorious sight which we saw
there amid the battle clouds Santa An
mas form idabe army hurled back into
the ravine md gorge by Tnylor's little
band. But more glorious thing it was
To sea thNt dying man standing there tor
the hst time in the light ot that sun
which shall never rise for him again.
leave me-" he shreked as he fell
back on the sod, II must die, and will
die here Peril your lives no longer lor
me Go There is work for you yon-
der ~
The Mexicans crowded on, hungry tor
blood. Even n, he -poke their bayonets,
gllsiening 10y Iundred., were levelrd AT
the throat- OF the devoted bal d. BY the
mere force of their oveIN helming mum
ber-, they crushed them back from Che
dying Clay.
Only one fingered, brave man, who
bad known the chivallic soldier ana lov-
cd him long ; h. stood there, and, cover
ed rs hs was with blood, heard these last
wotd.:
"Tel my father how i died, and give
him, tbu.. al f,I.
Lifting his ashy face into the isht, hs
turned his eyes upon his comlnde's face
plnced lhe pistols in his hands and fell
bach To his death.
The comIade, with the pistols in his
grnsp, fought his way alone TO the top
uost rvck OF the path, only once looking
back He saw a shivering form canopied
by hsyouets. He saw those outstretched
arms graphing with points Of steel. He
saw lac@ once lilted in the light, aud
then darkness rushed on the life OF young
Henry Clay.