The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-04-29
FABLE THE FIFTH.-CoSrINuED.

IL had seemed ike an nour between
the flash Of the French bayonets and
the word to fire. But it seemed no
moro than moment between that word
and the charge. An instant ago the
deep column was about to burst through
the line; now the line was sweeping the
broken column into the plain. So at
least, 1t was TO one who was there; those
who were not have doubtless more TO
tell It seemed q marvel The French
men turned their backs; the English
men hotly followed. Who, at that mo-
ment Of sudden victory, could feel the
savage rise in him? Not Stephen Har-
low, for he was man.
More and more the flying column
broke, and man after man went down
before the pursuing steel Order was
lost, and the pursuit went far out into
the plain. 1t was a rout; and il the
French had thus been met elsewhere,
the day was surely gained.
But hark-if any had ears TO hearl A
thunder shook the plain, and nearer and
nearer the afternoon sun flashed back
from cuirass and sabre. Down upon that
struggling red line came the dragons,
and under that sudden aid the broken
column managed to face round 1t was
for the redcoats to reel back, and 10
gather as best they could. And the
men, whose blood was on fire with fam
cied victory, and, being slow English
men, scarce knew what was upon them,
did gather with q cheer. Stephen knew
no more than they, but he saw a flash
of steel before his eyes, and received a
sharp blow on one arm while he caught
the Kings colors with the other from
the lad who carried them, as the latter
went down. The scattered pursuers
formed somehow, and more by instinct
than by word of command, and with
fixed bayonets, faced without flinching
the new onset of the dragons, whae
the rallied French foot opened fire.
/ know not II Stephen Harlow
thought even Of Patience then. YeI
he was not thinking of life, or he sure
ly would have thought Of her he lived
for. Battle had bitten into him at last
and he had the colors to guard or dit
for. A rush like the roar of the SET
was in his ears. And then, for the frs
time during that great battle, Of which
he saw no more than the fraction OF ;
fraction, such as one soldier among
thousands may see, came the boom o
big guns. He knew that every com
rade had his teeth set and his eye
aglow, for so were his own. Up flashet
the sabers; down, like a whirlwind
rode the dragons once more. Their
was nothing for 1t but to wrap tn
oolors round his wounded arm, and +
fight for them so.
The Colonel was down; and for tn
rest 1t was every man for England an
his own hand.
Then the whirlwind was followed b
darkness. Not even Patience was any
thing TO Stephen Harlow moro.
-
IL
The real Dick Blackthorn, though h
had the honor and glory Of opening th
fight Of Talavera, saw little or nothin
OF that famous battle. II was not be
cause he was unwilling to do anythin
except his duty, and he was as ready
fight the French, on general principles
as any man there; but good luck or i
luck, at any rate, luck OF some sort
pursued him steadfastly. He shoute
out his warning to the outpost which
indeed, by this time needed no furthe
warning, and then, instead Of joinin
them as they fell back upon the nc
vanced brigade 10 which they belonged
held to his original purpose-if his in
pulse could be called by so fixed wore
and put his horses head towards th
town. I think he had recognized tt
uniform he ought to have been wea
ing, after all-indeed, am sure; an
better be q Portuguese than Britls
deserter But before he had got an
distance TO speak Of toward the lint
Of Spain he found himself chargin
alone upon the flank Of an adyancin
regiment Of voltigeurs and there WI
nothing for il but make back for u
water-course again, where the banl
might cover him.
III yesterdays was fix, what's th
70 be cailedp" thought he. .Most d
cidedly fixer. Pm cut Of, horse, foo
. and al. I've half q mind to get inyse
takau prisoner. A prisoner OF war