The daily gazette., 1878-12-23

hdence. You will not speak of 1t to
another" ~ W
Lavalette gave the promise required,
anu d'rectly after Leon entered, accom-
panied by Sir Andrew Neville.
OF. Hurbert very soon made the En-
Rnsh knight comprehend what was re-
CURED of him, and when he had gone
the old general turned to Leon, the two
being at that moment alone
"Hark! Ha! there sounds Clermont's
trumpet! Ny dear boy, here is packet,
III 1 come from the field this day alive,
yours"
81 pledge my word, my lord" return
ea the boy, taking the packet. Directly
afterwards SIR John and his devoted
protege were in their saddles, and at a
word from his chief he latter dashed
away to marshal the forces of st. HUI
bert
Whlie they were surveying the field a
messenger came dashing up from the
King, eager and breathless
MY lord" he said, addressing the
baron st. Hubert, "the enemy have
brought up from Chartres ten large can
non, and have already made arrange
mehts 10 place them on yonder height.
HIS majesty says you must clear that hill
anu capture those mighty eng ines"
ST. Hubert comprehended the whole in
"a moment. A glance at the eminence in
question, which was small hill, well
wooded, close upon their right flank,
told him that the opening of cannon upon
them in that place would be fatal; and he
az readily understood the intent of the
KING. The enemy were moving up the
heavy ordnance, believing that the
| presence thereof was not suspected by
thelr adversares. and sudden and we'll
| dlrected dash was only required to change
| the bearing of the whole thing.
| Tel the king his order shall be
| obeyed."
| So spoke the baron; and now to do the
work. He could not lead the charge up
| that hill in person, for he must look to
his main army, which had sufficient
work before them. In this dilemma he
resolved to send Leon % lead the import
ant charge. The thing was quickly de-
clded IN his own mind, and as quickly
| conveyed to our hero, and the baron then
said
"Here is my truncheon. 1t will be a
| sufficient badge of authority with those
who are to obey. Be careful, my boy =
! Be brave, but be circumspect.-God bless
and keep you u!-There-away
Drawing his sword and waving it
| above his head, Leon dashed away to the
head of the stalwart foresters, who had
been set apart as reserve force.
These men were the immediate retain
ers and tenants Of st. Hubert; about two
hundred and fifty in number; armed with
swords and pixies, these last being for
mldable weapons, with shafts, twelve
feet in length, and heads of steel, heavy
and sharp. Every man of them had
known Leon from his prattling boyhood,
and had come to love him for his good
ness and truth, as well as for his
prowess and bravery. He first ex-
hibited to them the golden truncheon cf
the baron, and then, in few words, told
them what he had been ordered to do.
my brave true hearts," he concluded,
the day. The king looks to us, and is
anxious. Will you follow me?
The shout of assent made the welkin
ring.
Leon, with keen glance and close cal
culation, had marked the movements on
the hull, and was squirting forward at the
top Of his speed. At the foot of the hill,
with not more than three hun
dred yards between himself and
he turned and gave the order for the
sweeping to the right and left of tho rear
di Visions. His order was instantly re-
peated to the chiefs of division, and in a
few moments more the foresters were
completely enveloping the hill. Onward
and upward swept the youthful leader,
bearing his light target To keep the fly
ing arrows from his throat, while his fol-
lowers pressed close TO his tracks.
Upon the summit of the hill the Bour-
bonnais ana Spaniards, to the number of
full five hundred, were working with all
their might. Their chief was none other
than Jean IL, the Duke de Bourbon.
Three hundred archers and pikemen
were arranged to resist the attacking
column, while the rest worked at the can
non. Three of the huge pieces had been
placed in position and loaded, AMI tho
duke, with his own hand, was prepared
to discharge the first, when the shock
came. A crowd of his own men had heen
driven before the muzzle of the gun he
was about to fire, when he dropped the
m..tch-stock and sprang to the front. But
a single glance told him he was too late
Like thundrrbolt dashed young Leon
upon the pikemen of BorbonnaiS, turn
Ing aside the weapons that were aimed
at him, and striking down two men in
bis course. And his orders had been
obeyed to the very letter So promptly
had the leaders of the second and third
divisions come up as they had been di-
rected, that the enemy was struck on all
hands at the same instant, and panic seZ-
ing them at once, they fled pell nell.
Leon did not make any pursuit, but set
hb Woth w I'LL tnc SdhhOh illOoO
who had brought them upon the field.
Three of the guns were already loaded,
and the matches lighted, and as soon as
they could be trained upon the DuKe of
Berry's flank they were discharged. The
moral effect of the enormous pieces of
ordnance was of greater moment than |
the physical. Const rnation and awe re-
suited in fear and fear begat demoran- |
cation and flight.
Leon Piled the battery until he had |
driven the Allies beyond reach of his !
projectiles, and then he thought of his |,
guardian. 1t was now past noon, and the |
battle had ragged furlously all the time.
Ever and anon our hero had taken a |
view of the field below him, and he knew
very nearly how the battle was going.
The royal forces were surely gaining; ana
as soon as he felt justified in leaving the
captured hill, he made arrangements to
rejoin his chief. Leaving half the troop
to guard the ordnance, under command
of his most trusty lieutenant, he sum-
moned the remainder to follow him to
the plain where the conflict was raging.
He had seen that the forces of Sir HUI
bert were closely engaged with those of
Burgundy, and he knew every arm was
needed He spusred on at the top of his
speed-for his horse had been resting for
several hours-and he reached the scene
of battle none too soon. Even as he came
IN hp found the BarOns st, Hubert and