Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-08-22

slope with three stout rebels at my heels
"What will be the end Of thsf' Thought |.
The end was that after forty yards or so,
finding the foremost close upon me, | turned
about and let hy with my pistol at him He
spun round twice aud dropped. watch | was
wondering at-the pistol being but poor
weapon for am-when was caught by the
arm and pulled behind clulnp of bushes
handy by. 'Twus the man with the wen, and
by his smoking muskct | knew that twas he
had fired the shot that killed my pursuer.
Good turn for good turn, says he; quick
with thy other pistolp
The other two had stopped doubtfully, but
at tho next discharge of my pistol they
turned tail and went up the hill again, and
we were left alone. And suddenly grew
aware that my head was aching fit to split,
and lay down on the turf, very sick and i'll.
'Twould be tedious to toll the whole of this
LONG fight. which, beginning soon after sunrise,
ended not till 4 in the afternoon or there
abon5s; and, indeed, Of the whole my recol-
lection is but of continual advance and re
pulse on that same slope.
But at o'clock, we, having been for the
sixth tmo beaten back, were painting under
cover Of a hedge, and Sir John Berkeley,
near by, was writing ON a drumhead some
message to the camp, when there comes a
! young man on horseback, his face smeared
with dirt and dust, and rides up to him and
Sir Bevill. Twas II have since learned) to
say that the powder was all spent but a
barrel or two; but this only the captains
knew Mt the time.
every well, then" cries Sir Bevill. leaping
up gayly Come along, boys-we must do
it this time And, the troop forming, once
more the trumpets sounded the charge, and
up we went. Away along the slops we heard
the other trumpetera sounding in answer, and
| | believe twas u surSum cOrda to all Of us.
! Billy Pottery was RANGED on my right, in
| thc first rank, and next TO me on tie other
side, giant near seven foo; high, who said
! his name was Anthony Payne and his bust
| ness to act as body servant to Sir Bevil.
! And he it was that struck up "A mighty Curl
| ous song in the Cornish tongue, which the
rest took up with will. Twas incredible
| low it put fire into them all; and Sir Bevill
! tossed his hat into the air, aud after him ike
schoolboys we potod, straight for the masses
/ ahead.
For now over the rampant came a com
pany of red muSketaers, and two of russell
clad pikemcn, charging down on us. A mo-
ment, and we wcrc crushed back another,
and the chant rose again. We were Crap
ping, hand to hand, in the midst of their
! files
But, good lack! What use is swordsman-
ship in a charge like this' The first red coat
that encountered mo | had spitted through
the lung and, carried on 10y the rush, he
| twirled Inc round like windmill. In an in
slant was passed; the giant stepping before
me and clearing Il space about him, using his
pike as if 'twere a fail With n wrench
tugged my sword out and followed. l saw
Sir Bevill, little to the left, beaten to hi,
knee and carried towards me. Stretching
out hand [ pulled him on his feet again
catching, rs did so, crack on the skull
that would have ended me had not Billy Pot
terry put up his pike and broke the force OF
it. Next, | remember gripping another red
coat by the beard and thrustng at him with
shortened blade. Then the giant ahead liftc4
his pike high, and we fought to rally round
it and with that | seemed caught of my feet
and swept forward-and we We're on the
crest
Taking breath, saw the enemy melting of
the summit like mans breath off a pane
And Sir Bcvill caught my hand and pointed
across to where, on the north side, white
standard embroidered with gold grifiins wa
mounting.
TITS dear Nick Staining" he cried; "Got
be praised-the day is ours for certain!'