The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1878-12-27


"Ah, Leon" cried st. Herbert, as the
youth approached, 'y0u have come, iuft ia
time! Hays you examined the lords below
~ -
Not only that, my lorl,H answered the
boy, but have discovered the dispositiou
OF the enemy beyond"
The youth hurried away, and when he
had gone, and the door had been closed
behind him, said Lavalctte:
"Sir Joha wish you would tell me ex.
actly who that boy is
If you will keep the story to yourself
will give it to you. DO you call TO mind
it is now little more than eight wears
past---the fearful tragedy of Alsdorf CsstleI
The boy Leon was brand pluckcd irom's
that burning, He is a wonderfulsooy. AhIr,
think the lad is coming Remember, II
have told yon this in confidence You viii
not speak Of Il to another"
Lavalcttc gave the promise required, and
directly afterwards Leon entered, accompa-
MED by Sir Andrew Neville.
81. Hubert very soon made the English
knight comprehend what was required Of
him, and when he had gone the old general
turned 10 Leon, the two being at that mo
ment alone.
"IIark Ia! there sounds Clernont's
trumpet Ny dear boy, here is a packet.
If come from the field this day alive, you
will return it to me; if | fall, it is yours,"
VI pledge my word my lord, rcturnelkz
the boy, taking the packet. Directly after,
wards Sir John and his devoted protegc
were in their saddles and at word from i.
his chief the latter dashed away to marshal
the forces Of St. Hubert.
While they were surveying the field
messenger came dasbing up from the king.
eager and breathlcss.
MY lord, y he said, addressing the Baron
st. Hubert, the enemy have brought Up
from Chartres ten large cannon, and have
already made arrangements 20 place them
on .yonder height. His majesty says you
must clear that hill and capture the mighty
engines"
St. Hubert comprehcnded the whole in
moment. A glance at the emipence i'll
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 nc as
readily understood the intent OF the king.
The enemy were moying up the heavy ord
nance, believing that the presence thereof
was not suspected by their adversaries, and
sudden and well directed dash was only
required to change the bearing Of the whoc
thing.
Tell the king his order shall be obeyed"
! So spoke the baron; and now 20 do the
work He could not lead the charge up the
! 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 TO lead the important charge. The
thing was quickly decided in his own mind
and as quickly conveyed to our hero ard~
the baron then said
Here is my trunchcon. II will be a suf-
ticient badge of authority with those who
are to obey BE careful, my boy!-Bo
brave but circumspcct,-G bless and
keep you : There-away"
Drawing his sword and waving it above
his head, Leon dashed away 10 the head oi
the stalwart fJresters, who had been set
| apart as reserve force,
These men were the immediate rctainers
and tenants Of st, 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 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 goodness and truth, as well
as for his prowess and bravery He first ey
hibited 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
day, The king looks to US, aud is anxious.
Win you follow mes"
The shout of assent made the wclkin ring
Leon, with keen glance and close calcula-
ton, had marked the movements on Tie
hill, aud was squirting forward at the top If
his speed 1t the foot OF the HILL with not
more than three hundred yards between
himself and the advance guard of the
enemy he turned and gave the order for
the sweeping TO the right and left Of thc
rear divisions. His order WAS instantly r.
peatcd to the chiefs of divisions, and in y
few moments more the f0resers were com
plctely enycloping 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 Che summit of the hill the Bor7
bonnais and Spaniards, to the number Of
full five hundred, were working with al
their might, Their chief was none other
than Jean H., the Duke dc Bourbon. Three
hundred archcrs and pkemcn were ~
ranged to resis, the attacking column, while
the rest worked at the cannon. Three ct
the huge pieces had been placed in position
and loaded, and the duke, with his own
hand was prepared to discharge the frs,
when the shock came A crowd Of his own
men had been driven before the mu2zle #
the gun he was about to fire, when he
dropped the match lock, and sprang TO ,,r
front Buta single glance told him he WAS
too late.
Like a thunderbolt dashed young Leon
upon the pikemon ct l'ourbonnais, turning
aside the weapons that were aimed at him,
and striking down two men in his course.
And his orders had been obcycd 10 the very
letter. So promptly had the leaders of ti''
second and third divisions come up Ms they
had been directed that the enemy WIS
struck on all sides ut the same instant, AMI
panic Selling them at once, they fed pc.
NELL Leon did not make any pursuit, but
set at work TO turn the cannon against thos9