Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-23
ner of louis Of France. The distance tr,r, Paris

.sN-FIflf1
petReen them. lay another army. spread c,er
| greater territory. a:.d displaying various ban
| EeIS- mai effort WAS TO b. made 20 huvl
| louis from his throne HIS own brother. the
Duke OF Berry. was AZ the head OF the inSVrsert
force. aided by Charles or Burgundy.
II was dubious prospect tor king Louis
Inc coailtion against him was strong. ani led
| py veteran chieftainS; bur he did not talter II
! was evident that the main battle was TO be
| Fought upon his right. Against haf wing, on
~ sae OPPOSITE side; were msrshalged the forces
| ol bQlSundy and the Low Countries. under
thafies the Bold, anti to meet them Louis had
appointed his weli-tried, faithful heEchiaaa
Knight and baron, Sir John - Hubert
IN low-roofed cot. close BY where rested the
I!snt Wig on the royal forces, sat two generals
| GnsaSeo In looking over roughly-drawn man.
IneS MetT me oarons John 81. Huoert and Oi!n
LdsAIeloc. NJ. Hubert was a man Of t,ity, tall
ana muscular. and caSed in aTmor Only his he al
Eelhg pare Lavalette was his lieutenant 80
coming battle. While they TINS CONFERRED q
door was noise.essly opened. and q youth en-
tered unannounced.
'Ah, Leon cried 1t. Hubert. AZ the youth an
preached. you have come Jusi in time, Uate
you examined the forJls below u.s."
Not only that. my lord" answered the hny
''hut have discovered the diSooSii ION ~ the
enemy beyond
Tie youth then hurried away. and ,vnen he
had gone and the door had been closed behind
him, said LaSalette:
''Str John. wish you would tell me exactly
who that boy is
ST you viii keen the story 10 yourself viii
give it 10 you. DO You call 10 mind-it is now a
little more than eight years past-the fearful
tragedy of AISdorf Castle: The boy Leon VAS a
brand plucked from that burning. Ne is 3 Won
derful boy All. think the lad is coming. Re
member.-I have told you this in confidence.
You VIII not speak OF it to another"
Lavaiette gave the promise required ami d-
ieetly afterwards Leon entered. accompanied
by Sir Andrew Neville.
ST. Hubert very soon made the English knight
comprehend what Was required OF him. and
when he had gone the old general turned TO
VA holm grgftf HI mn al
"Hark, Hal there sounds C.ermOnt'S tTun-
pet. Ny dear boy. here Is packet. II come
from the field this day alive: you viii return it
81 pledge my word. my lord" returned The
BOY. taking the packet. Directly afterwards
Sir John and his devoted prottgt were in their
| saddles, and at the word from his CHIEF the
latter dashed away 10 marshal the forces of 81.
| Hubert.
While they were surveying tie field mes
| senger came dashing up from the king. eager
| and GREATNESS.
My lord" he said addressing the Baron 81.
| Hubert, The enemy have brought up from
| Charities ten large cannon. and have ALREADY
| made arrangements 10 place them on Non1er
| height. His majesty says you must clear that
| hill and capture those mighty engines
st. Hubert cOmprehended the whole in a mo-
| ment. a glance at the eminence in quest ion.
| which was a 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 as readily understood the intent OF the
| king. The enemy were moving up the heavy
| ordnance. believing that the presence thereof
was not suspected by their adVerStrieS. ana y
! sudden and well directed dash was only re
| quired TO change the bearing OF the whole
thing.
Tell the king bis or der shall be obeyed"
SO spoke the baron; and now to do the work
He could not lead the charge mp that hill in
| person. for he must look TO his maiu army,
which had sufficient work before them. In this
dilemma iie resolved 10 send Leon to lead the
| important charge. The thing was quickly de-
cided III his own mind and as quickly conveyed
| to our hero and the baron then said:
'iHere is my trlncheOn. Ii VIII be a sufficient
badge of authority with those who are 10 obey
| Re careful. my boyle brave. but be circull-
| SPECIFIED bless and keep you, The
| away"
Drawing his sword and waving it above his
/ head, Leon dashed away to the head/of the
| stalWart IoresteIS, who had been set apart as
! reserve force.
These men were the immediate rctaincrs and
| tenants OF St Hubert: about TWO hundred ana
! fifty in number; 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 his prattling boyhood. ana
| had come to love him for his goodness ana
/ truth, as well as for his proweSs ana bravery
! He first exhibited TO them the golden truncheon
| OF the baron, and then. in few words. tod them
what he had been ordered to do.
MY brave, true hearts" he concluded, Iii W.
capture those great guns we save the day. The.
/ king looks 10 us. and is anxious VIII YOU fol
/ low me-
| The shout of assent made the welkn ring.
/ Leon. with keen glance add close calculation.
had marked the movements on the hill. and was
squirting forward AT the top OF his speed. At the
/ loot Of the hill, with not more than three hun
dred yards between himself and the advance.
/ guard OF the enemy. he turned and gave the
| order for the sweeping 10 the right and left OF
the rear divisions. His order was instantly re-
pe3ted TO the chiefs Of division. and in Few
moments more The forestelS were completely
| enyel0pfng the hill. onward and upward swept
the youthful leader bearing his light target IL
| keep the flying arrows from his throat. while
his followers pressed close 10 his tracks.
Upon the summit OF the hin tie BouFbonnais
ana SpanardS 10 the number OF full five hun
dred. were working with all their might. Then
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 cannon. Three ol
| 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 t.
| fire, when he dropped the match-stock and
| Sprang 10 the front. But single glance told
! him he was too late.
Like a thunderbolt dashed young Leon upon
| the pikemen of BourbOnnais turning aside the
| weapons that were aimed ar him. and striking
| down two men I'm his course. And his orders
had been obeyed to the very letter. SO promptly
| had the leaders OF the second and third divi-
! SionS come up as they had been directed. that
the enemy was struck on all hands at The same
| instant, and panic Selling them at once, they
| led pelI NEIL. Leon did not make any pursuit.
but set al 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
| be1rained upon the Duke OF Berry'S flank they
! were discharged. The moral effect of the enor-
| nous pieces OF ordnance was OF greater nome ut
than the physical. CONSERVATION and awe re-
| suited in fear; and fear begat decentralization
and flight.
Leon Piled the battery until he had driven
the Allies beyond reach OF his projectileS and
! then he thought Of his guardian. II 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: and rs soon as
lie felt justified in leaving the capt ured HILL he
| made arrangements TO rejoin his chief. Leaving
! half the troop 10 guard the ordnance undel
command OF his most triSty lieutenant, he sum
| mOned the remainder to follow him To the plain
| where the conflict was raging. He had secu
| that the forces OF Sir Hubert were closely on
| gagged with those OF Burgundy, and he knew
! that every arm was needed. lie Spurred on al
| the top OF his speed-for his horse had been
resting for several houfS-and he reached The
scene of battle none too soon. Even as he come
up he found the BaronS st. Hubert ana Lava
lette on foot, side by side opposed 10 superior
number, lighting for life
| a Leon to the rescue" he shouted, and stout
! BuIguDdian AMMAN went down beneath a well
directed blow OF his trenchant blade.
| "A Leon Ia the rescue. was the battle ci1
| of those who had followed him, and in Il few