The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-21


The real Eick Blackthorn, though he
had the honor and glory of opening the
fight of Talavera, saw little or nothing
of that famous battle. 1t was not be-
cause he was unwilling to do anything
except his duty. and he was as ready to
fight the French, on general principles,
as anv man there; but good luck or Ill
luck, ut any rate, luck of some sort,
pursued him steadfastly. He shouted
ont his warning to the outpost, which,
indeed. by this time needed no further
warning. and then, instead of joining
them rs they fell back upon the adj
vanced brigade to which they belonged.
held to his original pErpose-if his i'm
pulse could be called by so fixed a word,
and put his horses head towards the
town. / think he had recognized the
uniform he ought to have been wear
inc. after all-indeed, l am sure; and
better be a Portuguese than British
deSerter But before he had got any
distance to speak of toward the lines
of Spain he found himself charging
alone upon the flank of an advancing
regiment of coHigeurS; and there was
nothing for it but make back for the
water-cOurse again, where the banks
might cover him.
''If yesterdays was fix, what's this
TO be called?" thought he. ''MoSt de-
cidedly fixer. Pm cut off, horse. foot,
and su. I've half a mind to get myself
taken prisoner. A prisoner of wars
about the only thing I've never tried.
BY the Lord Harry, they're at it nowr'
And there. all day long, lay Dick
Blackthorn perdu, as if he were the
yeriest coward living in a ditch to eS-
cape powder and steel. But his skin
was by no means unhealthy thin, and
he felt no scruplcs on the point of
honor. What did trouble him was the
uncertainty; and not even that troubled
him long. at least SO soon as hunger re-
turned in full activity. But that also
had to be forgotten, so far as that in
exorcisable spirit may. He did his
best; and the battle of Talavera ragged
round Dick BlackthOrn sitting in the
midst of it and attempting to kill no
enemy but time, with a cigar.
And over him also the OminOus first
night fell, with its silence as of lurd
sky before its first sullen growl Well,
night was the time for making his way
somewhither: in the present state of his
appetite it did not seem to matter much
where. Better capture and a crust than
liberty without crumb. The French
might be in Talavera by this time, for
sught he knew. But nothing venture.
nothing win.
So, to prepare himself for the next
fortune of war. he buckled himself as
tight as he could, made himself a quid
for he had been a sailor; and then
but, behold a sight that made his
heart leap for JOY; the heart of a man
who had tasted nothing but tobacco.
and not much of that, for near four
and-twenty hours. and in near eight
and-forty little more than the scrapings
of an unknown bone.
1t was a hedgehog; nothing more
But the soldier and sailor had been a
gypsy, too, so far as a gsntile may.
In a trice he had put the bristly inno-
cent into clay pie, had lighted fire
of sticks, and then watched the baking
for good hour. 1t was not too long;
but it could scarcely be UNDERGONE for
one so hungry as he. Another man
might have feared to light fire, but
not Dick Blackthorn-that was not his
way. If he had to cook on a powder
barrel he would have taken his chance,
and, had there been choice, would as