The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1888-08-10

mons 10 surrender.
Don't snswerpi he cried, without re-
moving his eyes from the boy, who was
already in the plain. but who was no
ioager running, and who appeared TO be
dragging himself along with difficulty.
'.But get on runi" said the captain,
grinding his teeth and clenchiug his
fists; Kill yourself, die, scoundrel, but
20 onr7 Then a horrible oath burst
! from him "Ah, the infamous coward
he has sat down.
In fact, the boy, whose head till now
be had seen projecting above a wheat
/ field, had disappeared, as if he had
fallen. But in moment his head came
into view again; finally he was lost be-
hind the hedges, and the captain saw
him no more
He then few down stairs; it was rain
I ing bullets; the rooms were encountered
with the wounded. some of whom reeled
about ike drunken men, catching at the
I furniture; walls and floors were spat-
tered with blood; corpses were lying
across the doors; the l.eutenant's arm
had been broken by ball; everything
was IN a whirl Of smoke and dust
Courage yelled the captain Stick
TO your postsi Relief Is comingl Cour-
age for a little longer
The Austrians had drawn nearer yet,
their contorted fares doomed through
the smoke; above the rattle Of the firing
rose their savage cries, insulting, de-
handing surrender, threatening slaugh-
ter. Occasionally a soldier, terror
stricken, Tetreaied from the window;
the sergeant drove him back, but the
defenders fire was slackening; their
faces showed Encouragement; it was
impossible 10 prolcng the resistance.
Suddenly the firing of the Austrians
slackened and a laundering voice
shouted, first in German, then in Italian:
"surFenderi''
''NoP howled the captain from a
window.
And the firing began again steadier
and fercer on both sides. More soldiers
fell. Already more than one window
Was without defenders The fatal mo-
meat was close at hand. The captain
was muttering between his teeth in q
broken voice: They're not coming
They're not comingl" and he ran furi-
ously about, twisting his sabre in his
cienched hand. resolving TO die, when
Sergeant, coming down from the garrett.
cried in a loud voice: They're comingw
They're coming" the captain re-
peafeo with a shout Of JOY. At this all
shout, unhurt, wounded, Sergeants and
officers rush 10 the windows, and once
more the resistance grew fierce. 4 few
moments after a sort of uncertainty and
beginning Of disorder were remarked in
the enemy. Immediately, in great haste,
the captain formed a small company
down stairs, with fixed bayonets, ready
70 make sally. Then he flew up stairs
again. lie had scarcely got up there
when ihey heard heavy tread, accom-
panied by a formidable hurrah, and from
the widows they saw advancing through
the smoke the two cornered hats OF the
Italian carbineers. q squadron da-hing
along al full speed. and the flashing Of
sword blades brandished in the air, de
scending on the heads, shoulders and
backs Of the enemy. Then the little
troop rushed out OF the door with low
cred bsyOnets; the enemy wayered, be-
came disordered and took flight; the
ground remained clear, the house was
free. and short time after the height
was occupied by two battalions Of in
fautry and two eadnons.
The captain, with his remaining SOL
diers, re 0ined his regiment, fought again
and was slightly wounded in the left
hand by glancing ball, in the last bag
onet charge. The day ended in victory
for Us.
But the dag after, the fight having
begun again, the ltslians were over
Eheimed, in spite Of brave resistance,
by the superior numbers OF the Aus
TRANS, and on the morning Of the goth
they were compelled 10 retreat sorrow-
full ' toward the Mincio.
The captain, although wounded,
marched on foot with his soldiers, who
were tired and silent, and toward sunset
reached Goito on the Mincio and imme-
diaiely sought out his lieutenant, who
had been picked up, with broken arm,
bv our ambulance, and who had arrived
there first. lie was directed to church,
where Il field hospital had hastily been
installed He went there. The church
was full Of wounded reclining on two
rows Of beds and mattresses stretched on
the floor. two doctors and various as
sistants were going and coming and
stihed cries and groans were heard.
on entering, the captain stopped and
looked about him. in search of his Off
Ger. Just then he heard faint voice
close By baliing him:
Captain"
He turned around: ii was the drum
mer boy: he was stretched on a trestle
bed. covered up to the chest bya coarse
window curtain with little red and white
squares. with his arms out; he was pale
and thin, but with his eyes still spark
ling, ike two black gems.
Are YOU herei" the captain asked him
in an astonished but stern manner.
"Bravoi You did your duty"
Il did what / could, answered the
drummer boy.
..Have you been woundedf' said the
ca,fain. locking around for his officer
IN the beds near by.
What would you have" said the
boz, who took courage 10 speak from
the proud pleasure Of being wounded for
the frst time, and without which he
would not have dared TO open his mouth
In the presence Of the captain 81 had
20 run like hunchback. they saw me
Immediately. I should have arrived
twenty minutes sooner If they hadn't
hit me. Fortunately ! found a staff
captain directly to whom to give the
note. But il was hard coming down
after tha. iicki was dying OF thirst,
kept thinking that | shouldn't get there,
aud was crying with rage TO think that
every minutes delay some one was going
70 the other world up there at the house.
Bah, did what I could. am con-
tented. But, allow me, captain Look
A yourself. You are bleeding"
In fact. from the captains badly
bandagei palm few dfops Of blood
were trickling down his fingers.
..Do you want 10 tighten the bandage
captaini Hold il out moment
The captain held out his left hand,
ami put cut his right TO help the boy
undo and retie the knot. but no sooner
had the boy raised himself from the pill
low than he grew pale, aud was com
PEELED To rest his head again.
Enough. enough, said the captain.
looking at HIM and drawing away his
iandaged hand. which the boy wished
20 krep- take care OF yourself instead
Of thinking Of others, because even
81 -. 4...o-.a earfosse whom