The Newtown bee., 1889-06-07

furniture; walls were bespattered with blood; corpses were lying across the floors; the lieutenant's arm had been broken by a ball; everything was in whirl of smoke and dust.
 "Courage!'' said the captain. aStand to your posts Relief is coming! Cour- age for little while longer.'' The Aus trians had drawn nearer yet; their con- torted faces loomed through the smoke Above the rattling of the firing rose their savage cries, insulting, demanding surrender, threatening slaughter. Occa- sionally a soldier, terror-stricken, re- treated from the window; the sergeant drove him back. But the defenders Encouragement; it was impossible to prolong resistance. Suddenly the fire of the Austrians slackened and thun- dering voice shouted in German, then in Italian:
 "Surrender!''
 "No!" howled the captain from the window, and the firing began again, steadier and fiercer on both sides. More soldiers fell. Already more than one window was without defenders. The | fatal moment was at hand. The captain was muttering between his teeth in a broken voice: ssThey're not comingl They're not coming!" and he ran furi- ously about, twisting his sabre in his clenched hand, resolving to die, when a sergeant, coming down from the garret, cried in a loud voice, sSThey're coming.' | They're coming !"repeated the captain, with cry of joy. At this shout, all ,un- hurt, wounded, soldiers and officers, rushed to the windows, and once more the resistance was fierce. A few mo- ments after, feeling of uncertainty and beginning of disorder were observed in the enemy. Immediately, in great haste, the captain formed small company downstairs, with fixed bayonets, ready to make sally. Then he flew upstairs again. He had scarcely got up there when they heard hurried tread, accom- panied by formidable hurrah and from the window they saw advancing through the smoke the two-cornered hats of the Italian carbineers, a squadron dashing along at full speed and the flashing of sword blades brandished in the air, de- scending upon the heads, shoulders and backs of the enemy. Then the little troop rushed out of the door with low cred bayonets; the enemy wavered, be- came disordered, and took flight; the ground remained clear, the house was free, and short time afterward the house was occupied by two battalions of infantry and two cannon.
 The captain, with his remaining sol ldiers, rejoined his regiment, fought again and was wounded in the left hand by glancing ball in the last charge.
 The day ended victory.
 But the day after, the fight having be- gun again, the Italians were overwhelm- ed in spite of a brave resistance, by the superior number of the Austrians and, on the morning of the 26th, they were compelled to retreat sorrowfully toward the Mincio.
 The captain, though wounded, walked on foot with his soldiers, who were tired and silent and toward sunset reached Goito on the Mincio and immediately sought out his lieutenant, who had been picked up with a broken arm by an ambulance and who had arrived first. He was directed to a church, where 8 field hospital had hastily been installed. He went there. The church was full of the wounded, reclining on two rows of beds and mattresses stretched on the floor. Two doctors and various assist . ants were anxiously going and coming and stified cries and groans were heard.
 On entering. the captain stopped and looked about him in search of his officer. } Just then he heard a voice close by call ing to him: ....-.
 "Captain!,
 He turned around. It was the drum
 
 cred up to the chest with a coarse win dow curtain with little red and white squares, with his arms out. He was } pale and thin, but his eyes sparkled like two black gems.
 "Are you here?'' asked the captain in an astonished but stern manner. Bravo. you did your duty"
 l Fl did what I could,' said the drum , mer boy.
 s:Have you been wounded?', looking around for his officer in the beds near by. l "What would you have?, said the 9 boy, who took courage to speak from the proud pleasure of being wounded for the first time, without which he would not have dared to have opened his mouth - in the presence of his captain. ssI had t to run like a hunchback. They saw me
 immediately. I should have arrived 20
 minutes sooner, if they hadn't hit me. 5 Fortunately, found a staff officer to whom 1 gave the note. But it was hard l, coming down after that lick. I was q dying of thirst kept thinking shouldn't . get there and kept crying with rage . to think that with every minutes delay e some one was going to the other world 1t up there at the house. Bahi I did what
 could. I am contented. But allow n me, captain. Look at yourself; you art bleeding.n
  d aged palm, few drops of blood wers Ie trickling down his fingers. ssDo you want me to tighten the band
 age, captain? Hold it out a moment.-
 The captain held out his left hand ana c. pulled out his right to help the boy un ,e do and re-tie the knot; but, no soone ts had the boy raised himself from the pill 's low, than he grew pale and was com m pelled to rest his head again. \ B. e looking at him and drawing away hi : bandaged hand, which the boy wishe. IT. to take. ssTake care of yourself insteaa ;n of thinking of others, because eve he slight things can become serious whel he they are neglected"
 ba The drummer boy shook his head. .o "But you," said the captain, lookin ID at him attentively, ssyou must have los " a good deal of blood to be as weak a he that"
 ssLost much blood i- answered the bo, ns with smile. ssMore than blood. Look p! And with a jerk he pulled of the co' lis ering.
 n, The captain stepped back mortified. The boy had but one leg; his left le
 had been amputated above the knee ar
 the stump had been bandaged with raa to which were covered with blood. no Just then a fat little army surge<
 passed in his shirt sleeves. "Ah, captain, " he said quickly, no
 ding at the drummer boy, ssthat Is { re- unfortunate case, leg which cou ,as have been saved easily if he had n
 forced it in that mad way. A cursed l 10 flammation, it had to be cut of at one ff- Oh, but, g brave boy. assure you;
 didn't shed a tear nor utter cry. ( fin my word of honor, was glad he was his comes If Sood stock' hv love =,