Daily Republican., 1878-12-28

z mot only that, my lord" answ.re.
II the boy, "but ] have discovered the dis
Il position Of the enemy beyond"
:. he youth then hurried away. ant
k when he had gone and the door hat
e been closed behind him, said Lava
lette
g ''Sir John, wish you would tell IN.
y exactly who that boy is"
Q "If You keep the story TO yourself
/, will give it to you. Do you call tc
mind-it isnow little more than eigh,
0 years past--the fearful tragedy ofAlds
$ orf Castle The hoy Leon was a brand
Q plucked from the burning. He is a
wonderful boy. All! think the lad il
coming. Remember.--l have told you
this in confidence You will not speak
of it to another"
= Lavalettr gave the PROMISE required.
and directly afterwards Leon entered,
: accompanied by Sir Andrew Neville.
ST. Hubert very soon made the Eng
lish knight comprehend what was re-
quired OF him, and ghen h. had gone
the old general turned to Leon, the
Wtbring at that moment alone.
'Hark! ila! there sounds Clermont' s
trumpet! My dear boy, here is packet.
If com. from the fl. Id this day alive,
you will return it to me- If tall, it is
yours"
II pledge my word, my lord," re-
turned the boy, taking the packet .-
Directly after Sards Sir John and his
devoted protege were ip their saddles,
and at word from his chief the latter
dashed away to marshal the forces of
st. Hubert.
While they were surveying the field
messenger came dashing up from the
king, eager and breathl-ss.
my lord" he said, addressing the
Baron st. Hilbert, 'the enemy h ave
brought vi from Cha RS o. larg' can
non, and have already made arrange
ments to place them on yondt heishth.
His majesty says you must clear that
hill and capture those mighty engines."
st. Hubert comprehendpd the whole
in moment. A glance at the eminence
in question, which was a small hill,
well wooded, close upon their right
flank, told him that the opening Of can
non upon them in that place would
bs fatal and hr AZ readily understood
the intent Of the king. The enemy were
moving up the heavy ordnance, belev
ing that tn. presence thereof was not
suspected by their adversarirs, and a
sudden and we'll directed dash WAS only
required to change the bearing OF the
whole thing.
"Tell the king his order shall bs
obey-d."
So spoke .hs baron; aud 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 tins dilemma he
resolved to send Leon to lead the in!-
portant charge. Tn" thing was quicF y |
decided in his own mind, and as quick
ly conveyed to our hero, and the bar n |
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 b" cirenmspeat.-tiod
bless and keep you!-fhere-awav'
Drawing his swori and waving it
above his head. Leon dashed away to
the head of the stalwart tore-ters, who
hal been set apart a. reserve force.
These men We're the immediate rr
I a anl tan u 70 .tS - II ba ~. bnl |
two hundred aud fifty in Dnmber;
armed with swords and pixies, these
last being formidable weapons, with
shafts twelve feet in length, and heads
of steel, heavy and sharp. Every man
of them had known Leon from h pratt
ting boyhood, and had come to love
him for his goodness and truth. as we'll
as for his prow-ss and bravery. He
first exhibited to them he golden
truncheon of the baron, and then, in a
few words, told them what h. had been
ordered to do.
My brave hearts and true" he con
clut"d, "if we capture those great guns
we save the dav. The king looks to Us
and is H.Xious. Will yor rollow me -
The shout OF aS>,nt made the 'eIkiu
ring.
Leon, with a keen glance and clos
calculation had marked the movements
on the hill, and was spnrring forward
al the top of his speed At the foot of
the hill, with not more than three bun
dred yards betw ven himself and tn
al q a il.nI tf,iu r1 q tI.. l,n /
turned and gave the order for tine
sweeping TO the right ani left Of the
rear divisions. His order was instant
" repeated to the ciiet4 of divisions. F,
and in a few moments more the forest
RS we're completely envelopine toe niIl
Onward and upward swept the youth
'ul leader, bearing his light target to
keep the flying arrows from his throat, ,
shile his followers pressed close to his
racks, 1
Upon the summit Of the hill the
3oubonnais and Spauards, to the
number Of full five hundred, were ;
working with all their might. Their y.
thief was none other than Jean H., tn
Duke de Bourbon. Three hundred
Irchers and plkemen were arranged to :
esist the attacking column, while the r
"sl worked at the cannon. Three of .
he huge pieces had been placed in po-
ition and loaded, and the duke, with
lis own hand, was prepared TO dis j
barge the first, when the shock came. .
crowd of his own men had been =
riven before the muzzle of the gun he a
'as about to fire, when he dropped the :.
latch stock and sprang to the front -
ut single glance told him he was y,
% late. "
Like thunlerbolt dashed young -
con upon the pikemen of Bourbonnas,
lrning aside the weapons that Were -
;I,ul NJ i.., md rtri |. inn lnmn, trrn I