The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-03

you don't keep your head down behind tha,
wheel, you may perchance get run OF
lead through It'll"
'Never the worse for that, your honor
Mother always said my head was tough as
lead though, as how, it's never had what
you may call fair trial.
"Whist! l say again, whist! He's turn.
ed around. 1 wonder wha, tho fellow ru
| inmates about 80 muchi Perhaps heb
thinking Of the many little presents Wei.
lington~ will send him to morrow. Bu,
keep still now. l see he's itching to yet
out into the moonlight. Therc-thcre he
comes. Mind, now, don't move till speak.
Quiet, boysI Quiet, say!"
Napoleon, hltlc aware Of the danger tha,
threatens him, walks with his arms still
folded toward tho pices Of cannon wc have
pointed out, ard under cover of which Law
concealed some four or five runians (whost
conversation we have in part transcrlbed),
ready to pounce down upon their prey. Az
he drew near to them, and his person be-
coming more distinct ina sudden flood OF
moonlight, their hearts appeared for the
moment to melt, either out of fear for their
own safety, or a dread against the spilline
of such royal blood.
DO you think we had better 2" SAID
one.
"I-I don't fancy it," said another.
W-I-I--wish- said a third.
SO! o. none OF your foolcries, boys
Now's the time! Do 1t, or not do it2"
'Do It'll" exclaimed all.
''Then it is done !" and the foreman OF
the gang sprang out, and presented his pis.
tol to The head of Napoleon, followed i'm.
mcdiately by his companions.
''Silence, OR Ill--"
F'"Oryou'll blow my brains out |" added
the Emperor, in jocund manner, at tho
same moment laughing outright.
The cut-throats were cOnfounded. Ono
looked at the other, and the other looked
at his neighbor, in perfect amazcment. The
merry laughter of Napoleon continued
when suddenly, III an Opposite direction, a
liash-a whiZ- bang succeeded, and the
foremost assassin fell to the ground. In q
moment he was surrounded by dozen OF
twenty soldiers, all eager to show their at
tachment, even at the cost Of their lives
AS if nothing out of the ordinary course OF
things had transpired, Napoleon simply
waved his hano, saying to one of the sub
ordinate officers by his side, "Lct thos,
mcn be put in chains till daylight" anc
then walked away to his tent, apparently
unmoved and uncOncerned.
Daylight arrived. The Emperor came
forth, mounted on a pure white charger
the trappmgs of his harness set with gold
1t was noble sight. Long was tho line o
Furnished steel which passed III review b.
| fore him. AS far as the eye could reacl
there was a continual glitter of polished
metal that reflected back, with the bril-
liancy of the diamond, the rays of til,
morning SUN. Numerous officers, clad il
the richest garments. ornamentcd with golt
lace, and their high, flowing plumcs wav
ing in the breeze, accompanied their com
mandcr.
- 'Eisv1rtler had alrtt.IS hoon giyon ,hnt
| the men who were arrested the night be
| fore should be shot without a hearing. Ma.
poleon was to be present at the execution
and as ho appeared III the distance with hi.
numerous retinue, the prisoners were
brought out hand-cuffed, their coats ano
vests thrown off, and their bosoms baret
for the balls. A few hours Of horrid sus
pensc had worked nconceivably upon thcil
looks and actions. They were CHASTITY pule
and the traces of deep anguish were visible
upon their foreheads; yet they stood firn
and undaunted before the wcll-aimed gInl
of the soldicry. Not a limb shook, not
lip quivered, and thus they were Launched
into eternity, as Napoleon turned from til,
scene with smile