Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-08-14
THE HORNETS NEST"
AN HISTORICAL STORY OF LOVE
AND WAR.
By E. P. Roe. Author of Opening of
Chestnut Burr" Barriers Burned
Away" Etc, Etc.

tho part OF our two friends, Burton
and Angus. They, with others, rode
rapidly TO the eastern side of the vii
lage and tied their horses. leaving
them in charge of Zach Wilson, since
he was the youngest Of the party.
Then they fastened back and took
position under the orders of Graham
behind a garden fence nearest to the
advance of the enemy.
IL hate this skulking." said Burton,
whose eyes glowed like Goals in the
moonlight. IF / we're only on my
horse it would be glorious to ride
right straight nj 'em with a sharp
saber."
"Nonsense!' .aid Angus, quietly,
you know it would be ridiculous in
stead of glorious. What could you or
all of us do. riding straight at the
whole British armyP"
'Oh. ] know Graham and Dayie are
right replied Burton. with a grim
laugh. Il was only saying how I'd
ike to do things. Some day, before
the scrimmage is over. | hope to have
"A chance for a charge in an open field.
The" one would feel like a soldier in
stead Of "A skulking hunter"
Father used to say that those were
the best soldiers who best obeyed or
ders and carried out their officers
plans. I'm content to be where | am,
and | feel As if | could almost die for
the chance to draw my bead on Tarle-
tor. Oh! see; there they are. They
are forming on the common. Let us
hold our fire till we are sure of our
man.
The boy was quite rs deeply stirred
as his older comrade, but in his case
excitement tended to steady his nerves
and Danish the thor GIT of fear
BY this time every house was closed
and doors and windows barred. With
in were trembling women and children,
some weeping. some praying for faith
ers, husbands. brothers and lovers.
Without the moonlight revealed the
dusky, motionless forms Of men, their
white, stern faces and cleaning rifle
barrels.
After a brief halt upon the Common,
speat by the British in accommodating
the position of the enemy, the stiffness
was broken by the clangor of "A trum-
pet sounding a charge. With skirmish
line in front. the English infantry
moved forward promptly on the TANKS.
while Tarleton's cavalry followed slow
" in the center.
The two friends saw them coming
and anew that they two would be
among the first engaged.
Heavens! how white you are, An
gus" Burton whispered.
The boy gave "A quick gasp. his
mouth twitched for "A moment, and then
he faltered, Burton never fired at a
man before. No matter how right and
just it is, it seems an awful thing TO
take aim at a man."
Drive away such thoughts, Gus.
They'll soon take aim at you, and they
killed your father
''Ah. yes, they killed my father"
and the delicate mouth became firm,
the face that was almost girlish in the
moonlight stern and quiet in its pur-
pose.
The warm-heartcd Burton put his
arm about the boys neck in the shadow
of a bush and kissed him. '.Giye that
to Ella if anything happens to me-" no
said. ''How strangely you look like
her at this moment! Ha! the balls
begun
There was a flash from "A musket on
the skirmish line and a bullet whizzed
10y. Then many other reports followed,
the British infantry closed up and
sought TO dislodge Graham and his
party from their cover.
Burton. Angus and George Graham
were on the left side of the street. The
young major commanding often APP
peared with an encouraging word. In
deed, he was so active that he seemed
gifted with being in my places at
once, and his acquaintance with the
men enabled him to address Them by
name, and to say words OF cheer and
confidence which steadicd the aim of
many a poor fellow now for the first
time under tire. Our young friends
did no belong to the ordinary militia
class, but were finely nurtured youths
and inspired by motives of the strong
est character. The sing Of the first
bullet stung Angus like a cut from IA
whip. In an instant he took aim at a
dark form on the cnemy's line whence
a flash had proceeded, and fired; then
saw, with = strange thrill. that there
was "a gap in that line. For the next
few moments he, Burton, and all about
them were loading and firing as rapid
" as possible. But the British infantry
came steadily forward on both flanks,
creeping along the sides OF the street.
breaking through and leaping over
garden fences and other distractions:
while moving slowly up through the
center Of the street advanced a solid
body Of cavalry. Again a trumpet re-