The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-24


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 retainers
= and tenants of Sir Hubert; about two hun
/ dred and fifty in number; armed with
swords and pixies, these last being formid-
, able weapons, with shafts twelve feet in
length and headsof steel, heavy and sharp
. Every man of them had known Leon from
his prattling boyhood, and had come to
} love him for his goodness and truth, as well
as for his prowess and bravery. He hrst
exhibited TO them the golden truncheon of
the baron. and then in few words, told
them what he had been ordered to do.
"My brave, true hearts," he concluded,
"if we capture those great guns we save the
J 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 ealcu-
lation, had marked the movements on the
! hill, and was spurring forward at the top OF
his speed. At the foot of the hill, with not
, more than three hundred yards between
himself and the advance guard of the elie-
my, he turned and gave the order for the
sweeping to the right and left of the rear
divisions His order was instantly repeated
TO the chiefs of division, and in a few mo-
} ments more the foresters were completely
developing the hill. Onward and upward
swept the youthful leader, bearing his light
target TO keep the flying arrows from his
throat, while his followers pressed close to
his tracks.
Upon the summit of the hill the Bour-
bonnais and Spanards, to the number of
full five hundred, were working wi h all
. 81 ,srl,t hi. Ia, ,of ntb tbnr
than Jean II, the Duke de Bourbon. Three
hundred archers and pikemen were ar
ranged to resist the attacking column, while
the rest worked at the cannon. Three OF
!; the huge pieces had been placed in position
and loaded, and the duke, with his own
hand, was prepared to discharge the first,
when the shock came A crowd Of his own
, men had been driven before the muzzle of
the gun he was about to fire. when he
dropped the match-stock and sprang to the
'front.' But single glance told him he was
too late.
| Like thunderbolt dashed young Leon
upon the pikemen Of Bourbonnais, turn
S ing aside the weapons that were aimed at
him, and striking down two men in his
course. And his orders had been obeyed to
the very letter. So promptly had the lead
+ ers of the second and third divisions come
d up as they had been directed, that the enc
d my was struck on all hands at the same in
t slant, and panic seizing them at once, they
:, fled pel nell. Leon did not make any
b pursuit, but set at work to turn the cannon
!, against those who had brought them upon
S the field.
Three of the guns were already loaded,
: and the matches lighted and as soon as
e they could be trained upon the Duke OF
/ Berrys flank they were discharged. The
| nrnI offo of tho 1tiap nf ord
= nance was of greater moment than the
S physical. CONSERVATION and awe resulted
S in fear; and fear begat Generalization and
flight.
{, Leon piled the battery until he had driven
J. the Allies beyond reach Of his projectiles
], and then he thought of his guardian 1t
: was now past noon, and the battle had
o ragged furiously all the time. Ever and
S anon our hero had taken a view OF The field
e before him, and he knew very nearly how
Y the battle was going. The royal forces were
surely gaining; and as soon as he felt
J, justified in leaving the captured hill, he
made arrangements to rejoin his chief
1t Leaving half the troop to guard the ord
e nance, under command of his most trustS
It lieutenant, he summoned the remainder tt
r follow him to the plain where the conflict
e was raging. He had seen that the forces Of
|, Sir Hubert were closely engaged with those
is of Burgundy, and he knew that every arm
d was needed. He spurred on at the top O.
his speed-for his horse had been resting
d for several hours-and he reached the scene
o of battle none too soon. Even as he came
v up he found the Barons ST. Hubert and La
n valette on foot, side by side, opposed to
l. superior number, fighting for life.
r, "a Leon to the rescued" he shouted, ant
g a stout Burgundian axman went down be
o meath Well-directed blow of his trenchan
re blade.
d "a Leon TO the rescue'' was the battl,
h cry of those who had followed him, and il
a few moments the Burgundians wer
le broken and routed.
n Our hero had reigned up his painting steet
W by his guardians side, and was upon th
point of addressing him when look of ter
,e ror suddenly convulsed the good baron
IN face and he cried out to his prolege to be
ware!
N Leon had time to turn his head, and t.
ID avoid the blow aimed at him. 1t was Mail
lotin du Bac whom he saw, s anding in hi
K slirrups, and aiming at him a javelin
With quick, powerful jerk of the rein ht
I drew back his horse, and the javelin grace
= his throat and struck st. Hubert, who wa
at in the act of mounting horse that he ha,
e? at that moment caught by the bride. Tn
M baron's helm had been shattered, and tn
III furiOuSly hurled barb Striking where tn
/ plates were broken, felled him to the earth
i'll In moment Leon was upon his feet, an
by his dear guardians side; and, at th
Nd same moment, he heard the loud summons
"a "John St. Hubert, knight and baron
yield thee my prisoner!'
sh 1t was Maillotin du Bac.
of "He yields not yet, vain braggart!
al shouted Leon, and, as he spoke, he sloo
o. above the PROSTATE knight, with sword an
buckler in hand, his feet plan ed one upo
is either side of the revered and beloved form
It. Erect he bore himself, the fire of his eye
ou flashing through the interstices of tn
l." looped visor, and every cord and muscl
ed sprung to the work of protecting the sacre
er- charge.
ge Hal" shouted Du Bac when he saw tn
m youth thus standing astride the falle
al baron, sis it thou, my hero? L faith, l.
take the pair of you, but punish you fir
a for your insolence. What think you of th
lg weight of that blade?"
Evidently the future Provost of Burgul
on dy, to become butcher-in-chief of Charlie
ap the Bold thought to cleave the skull of tn
We venturesome youth from crown