Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-06-19

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to face, his sword bare and his eye,
blazing. That momentary panic saved
Clontarf. In second Ralph had thrown
him under the arch of a deep doorway
and placed himself between the senseles,
body and its assailants. Two or threC
shots were fred at him without effect il
was difficult to take aim in such toss.
ing chaos; then one man, Delaney
sprung out at him with clubbed mus.
ket. "At last ~ we heard Mohun say,
laughing low and savagely in his beard
as he stepped one pace forward to NEE,
his enemy. A blow that looked as if it
might havd felled Behemoth was warded
dexterously by the sabre, and, by quick
turn Of the wrist, its edge laid the Rap.
paree's face open in a bright, scarlet
cash, extending from eyebrow to chin.
His comrades rushed over his body,
furious, though somewhat disheartened
at seeing their champion come to grief ;
but they had to deal with a blade that
had kept half dozen Hungarian swords
men at bay, and, with point or edge, it
met them everywhere, magically. They
were drawing back, when Delaney, re-
covering from the first effects Of his fear
full wound, crawled forward, gasping out
curses that seemed floating on the tor
rent Of his rushing blood, and tried to
grasp Mohun by the knees and drag him
down.
Pah it was a sight to haunt ones
dreams. You might have filed my
glass, some Of you when you saw it was
empty.)
Ralph looked down on him, and laugh
ed again his sabre whirled round once,
and cleared a wide circle; then, tramp
| ling down the wounded man by main
force, he drove the point through his
throat, and pinned him to the floor. I
tell you I heard the steel plainly as it
grated on the tone. There was an aw.
full convulsion of all the limbs, and then
the huge mass lay quite still.
Then came lull tor several moments.
The Irish covered back to the door like
penned sheep; their ammunition was ex-
hausted, and none dared to cross the hid
eous barrier that now was between them
and the terrible Cuirassier.
All this took about half the time to
act that it does to tell. | was hesitating
whether to descend or to stay where my
duty called me-near my wife. Fritz
knelt behind me, silent and motionless !;
he had got his orders to stay by me to the
last; but the sturdy keeper rose to his
feet.
Fax" he said, "Fm but poor
hand at the swoording, but | must help
my master, anyhow" and he began to
climb over the breastwork. The colonels
quick glance caught the movement, and
his brief. imperious tones rang over the
hubbub of voices loud and clear,
Don't stir, Connell; stay where you
are. I can finish with these hounds
alone"
And as he spoke, he dashed in upon
them with lowered head and uplifted
sword.
don't wonder that they all recoiled !;
his whole face and form were fearfully
transfgured every hair in his bushy
beard was bristling with rage, and the in
carnate devil of murder was cleaning
redly in his eyes.
Just then there was wild cry from
without, answered by shrek from my
wife, who had been quiet till now. At
first l thought that some fellows had
scaled the window; but | soon distin-
guished the accents Of great joy. My
poor Kate She had roughed it in bar
racks too long not to know the rattle OF
the steel scabbards.
When the Dragons came up at a hard
gallop, there was nothing left in the
courtyard but the dead and dying. Mo-
hun had followed the flyers to get last
stroke at the hindmost. We clambered
down into the hall, and, just as we
reached the door, we saw a miserable
crippled being clinging round his knees
crying for quarter. Poor wretch HI
might as we'll have asked it from fam
! ished jungle tiger. The arm that hat
fallen so often that night, and neve
in vain, came down once more =
, the piteous appeal ended in DEATH yell
n and, as we reached him, Mohun was wip
ing coolly his dripping sabre: it had n
4 more work to do.
J, l Icould not help shuddering as tool
e his offered hand. and / saw Connell trem
;, BILE for the first time as he made the sig
s of the cross.
The Dragons were returning froI
d the pursuit; they had only made tw
I prisoners; the darkness and the broke