Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-12-20
A FIGHT IN. THE SNOW.
A STORY FOR YOUNG AND OLD.

the other, short, strongly built, hook
noscd, with a mouth and jaw us firm and
hard as bulldogs, was quite MS unmis-
takably English. At the time when
France was helping the Americans to
beat England beyond the Atlantic, one
would hardly have expected to find Il
French and an English boy so friendly
together; but they evidently were very
good friends for all that.
"Awkward place to bcsicgc, CHI, com
comrdc?" said the French lad, rs they
halted on the edge of the vast moat. nj
most as deep and broad us an Alpine
gorge, which separated them from the
huge dark ramparts and massive round
towers of the old castle of Anglers. eff
our teacher was to put in IN examination
paper, Describe the best way of taking
Anglers CASTLE, should be puzzled, for
one, MS sure rs my names Eugene dc
Flomc. How would You set about it?n
The English lad eyed the grim fortress
in silence for few moments, and then
said, in the brief, stern way, from which
/ his French school-fcllows had already
nicknamcd him ''Shorispecch:"
scout Off the water"
''3ut how" cried Eugene.
"Thcy have only one well in the
castle, and hear that ii often goes dry.
Failing that, they have only the
river to depend upon. Find out their
communication with it, and cut it Off"
"Thcrcs something in that" said De
Florac; "but wouldn't it take an inn
mcnsc deal of timc,"
$50 do most things that are worth do
ing ut all, " said the other, quietly.
"Wcll," cried De Florac, "you won't
be able to do that when you bcsicgc our
snow fort this afternoon; you'll have to
cut of the snow instead of the water.
When | was at school in Brennc last
year learned some new things in forti-
tication from Corsican boy called Napo-
Icon Bonapartc who seemed to know every
thing that could be known about it; and
| warn you that you'll have hard work 10
drive lis out of such fort us Tn going
to build today"
"Whcn the time comes" answered
Shortspecch, composcdly, "wc shall see
what we can do"
"Wcll done! Vivc la France! Let
fly again, COMMUNICATIVE 'cm a good
dose! Bravo! bravo!"
And crushing storm of snowballs
came rattling in the faces of the assail-
ants, mingled with shouts of taunting
laughter. rs they rcclcd back from the
assault for the third time.
Eugene dc Floac had fully made good
his promise to give the attacking party
hard work. Not content with building
his fort in the shape of crescent. so that
the assailants could be battered on both
sides at once, he had poured water
over the whole front of it and then let it
freeze, making the walls MS slippery as
glass. Every one who tried to climb
them slid down and fell sprawling on his
back, sending his comrades tumbling in
all directions. Some strovc to tear down
the frozen walls, but only bruised their
fingers. Thrice the bcsiegers came rush
ing on, and thrice were they beaten back.
All at once Shortspccch, who, while
foremost in the fight, had watched every
movement of the defenders with his keen
gray eye, called aloud, "Garcw (takc
care. Instantly his party turned tail
and ran, while De Florac and the holders
of the fort, already excited 10 the high.
est pitch, could restrain themselves no
longer, and rushed out after them in 4
body.
Quick as lightning half n dozen MIN
bic fellows of the other party spmng
from behind corner of the playground
wall, and clambcring into the deserted
fort, tore down, with q shout of tri-
umph, the flag that waved above it.
Dc Florac and his followers, thunder
struck at this unexpected disaster.
rushed wildly back to the rescue; but in
moment tho pretended fiers faced
round and pelted them with perfect
hail o., snowballs, while the captors of
the fort battered them on the other
side. Then all gave way, and Eugene