Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-26

make any pursuit, but set to work to
turn the cannon against those 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 wore
discharged. The moral effect Of the
enormous pieces of ordnance was Of
greater moment than the physical.
CONSERVATION and awe resulted in fear;
and fear begat Generalization and
fight.
Leon piled the battery until he had
driven the allies beyond reach of his
projectiles, and hen he thought of his
guardian. 1t was now past noon, and
the battle had ragged furiously 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 and as soon as he
felt justified in leaving the captured
hill, he made arrangements to reioin
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
Hubert were closely engaged with
those Of Burgundy, and be knew that
every arm was needed. He spurred
on at the top OF his speed-for his
horse had been resting for several
hOurs-and he reached the scene of
battle none to soon. Even as he came
up he found the Barons st. Hubert
and Layalette on foot, side by side,
opposed to a superior number, fighting
for life.
"a Leon to the rescued" he shout
ed, and a stout Burgundian axman
went down beneath a well directed
blow of his trenchant blade.
"A Leon to the rescued was the
battle cry of those who had followed
him, and in a few moments the Bur
gundians were broken and routed.
Our hero had reined up his painting
steed by his guardians side, and was
upon the point of addressing him
when a look Of terror suddenly con-
vulsed the good baron's face, and he
cried out to his protege to bewarel
Leon had time to turn his head and
to avoid the blow aimed at him. 1t
was Maillotin du BAG whom he saw,
standing in his stirrups, and aiming at
him a javelin. With a quick, power
full jerk of the rein he drew back his
horse, and the javelin grazed his throat
and struck st. Hubert, who was in the
act of mounting a horse that he had
at that moment caught by the bride.
The baron's helm had been shattered.
and the furiously hurled barb striking
where the plates we're broken, felled
him to the earth. In a moment Leon
was upon his feet, and by his dear
guardians side; and, at the same mo-
ment, he heard the loud summons:
John st. Hubert, knight and baron,
yield thee my prisoner
1t was Maillotin du Bae.
He yields not yet, vain braggart! p
shouted Leon, and, as he spoke, he
stood above the PROSTATE knight, with
sword and buckler in hand, his feet
planted one upon either side of the
reyered and beloved form. Erect he
bore himself, the fire of his eyes fash
ing through the interstices # the
looped visor, and every cord and mus
Gle sprung to the work of protecting
the sacred charge.
"Ha!" shouted Du Bac, when he
saw the youth thus standing astride
the fallen baron, is it thou, my hero?
| faith, I'll take the pair of you. but
punish you first for your i~nsolence.
What think you Of the weight Of that
blade?"
Evidently the future provost of
Burgundy, to become butcher-in-chief
of Charles the Bold, thought to eleave
the skull of the venturesome youth
from crown to chin; but he struck at
one who was quick to see and quick
to act. Without changing his position
Of body to the varition of a hair.
Leon threw up his left arm, with his
circular target affixed thereto, and the
slightly comic surface, highly tempered
and polished, turned aside the de-
scending blade as though it had been
a lath of wood.
Du BAG raised his sword a second
time. The above we publish as a
specimen chapter; but the continue
tion of this story will be found only
in the N. Y. Ledger. Ask for the
number dated January 9TH, which can
now be had at any news office or book
store. If you are not within reach Of
a news Office, you can have the Ledger
mailed to you for one year by sendinq
three dollars to Robert Bonner, pub.
Usher, $50 William street, New York.
The Conscientious Irishman.
II