The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-05-22

ilkely as not have preferred the barre
to hearthstone. He broke the ella.
case, ate, and was thankful And b.
had cause; for / doubt If Genera
Wellesley or Marshal Victor had half 81
good supper that night as he.
A good supper deserves nap; 30 ht
Law down for half an hour. IL can nj
WAYS wake to any minute 1 choose. ,
said he to his horse. ..Half an hour
not minute more"
He slept precisely half an hour-tt
the minute. Only, instead of waking
he went on sleeping. and without ;
dream. Indeed, it seemed to have beer
but five minutes whea he woke ND In
the broad day.
THAT comes of supping on hedge
hog said he. "And-there they re al
it again.
And sure enough they were, i
thunder is to be believed. Dick Black
thorn had contrived to sleep peacefully
for hours. as peacefully rs if IN his Ole
bed at quiet Leys Croft, while horse and
foot were charging and flying around
him, and the powers of the world were
warning like Titans within reach of ear
and eve. "At Il again" indeed they
were; if that were all. So good it is to
be vagabond, whom breakfast con-
Germs more than all-at least, till din
ner-time. But even Dick Blackthorn,
once fairly awake, felt kind of awe.
He took his horse by the bride, with
out mounting. and led him farther up
the dry stream. He might find some spot
where he could see without being seen.
But he found none better than shell
tered cleft of rock where he might sit
and listen while the battle ragged and
roared around. 1t was as sweet a NOOK
rs man might find in that arid Castil-
ian plain; hermit might have chosen
II for his cell. A little spring bubbled
up, and took the water-course for some
yards before it was swallowed up N the
midsummer dryness No doubt, after
che rains. it became stream. The cell
was carpeted with fresh. wet moss; and
shrubs, sheltered by the overhanging
rock from the scorch of noon, made it
a bower No true vagabond could pass
such spot, so matie for rest and shelter.
And what was to be gained by going
on, before they who were fighting had
time to feed? Clearly, nothing at all;
unless it was bullet for fool.
So there he sat, and found plenty of
occupation in meditating, after his
manner, on many things. That he
thought of his sweetheart can not
truly he said. for she was much too
numerous; and, besides, yesterdays
adventure had sickened him of that
sort of thing. But he did think once
more of his home. and of his obstinate
old dunderhead of a father-God bless
him. anyhow-and of his sister, and of
the beef and bacon now doubtless be-
fore them. and of the home-brewed ale.
Perhaps his father would be tribe re-
pentant if he could look and see to
what his unforgivingness had brought
his only son. But no; there was no
good in dwelling on that No Black
thorn could give in, if it were for moth
ing better than a straw. "And I'll not
give in. seeing was in the right of it"
thought he. "And father will never
give in, just because he's in the wrong.
I'd never forgive the old chap if he gave
in; and if gave in he'd never forgive
me. It's pity, but-Holloar'
1t was rush of men so near that he
could distinguish their shouting and
hear the clash of bayonet and sword.
But before he could see more, it had
swept by.
But every day has an end; and ut last
the big guns ceased firing. and all be-
came strangely still. Surely he might
now emerge; and another night was be-
ginning TO fall He would not risk
things by hedgehog hunting again. He
however, till all had for long
been rs still AS death. and the armies
IF the stars came out 10 look down up
On the armies of men and to see what
hey had done. Then Dick Blackthorn
came out into the plain-the only man
nat day with bio0dleSs sword.
Now would l give hundred
said he to his horse, Ito
know who've won the day; if I'm to be
. French prisoner or an English liar;
or one or the other | must have to be.
Shall make forward for Talavera or
back for Escalona Talavera may be
French or may be English: Escalona
nay be French or may be Portuguese.
IN hanged if know which to choose.
Well, there's only one thing to be done,
hen. Heads or tails. Without heads
,r tails, what puzzle life would be, to
De sure! L for tails and Talavera. H
or heads and-no; not quite Escalona,
nut pretty near. won't get muddled
over it this time, Tails-Escalona
Then so let it-hold up; what are You
Stumbling over there9n
But. coming out into the full moon
ight, he saw; and he asked no more
Many things had he seen in his roll
nc hfe, but never anything like this.
md it made him turn palec than if he |
lad been afraid The first he saw of |
hat great and bloody fight was field |
# slain. And it was where the fight !
must have Seen the hardest, too. Rcd !
oats and blue-coats Law beside and !
my were dying he could not see. And |
lere and there the white mooubeams |
ell upon cuirass or helmet; though |
hese were but few. 1t must have been
! hand-to-hand struggle, with but little |
lfe to carry away on either side.
And II was sitting smoking in a
orner and staring at bubbles while this
this was going on hard byr' Dick
'lackthorn groaned. But how could
man tell that fighting meant this, I'M
ess he had SEEM" All appetite was
one. He refined in his horse. afraid of
There the next hoof might fall; already
splash of crimson had come upon his
wn hand. There is no true vagabond
ut has q tender heart and = fancy
ghtly fired; and Dick Blackthorn was
vagabond indeed He gazed over the
ED appalled, and ashamed
He looked IT no Sraciai face after the