The Irish standard., 1891-03-28

turn any one ever did for me in this
world, and only pray to Heaven that
If either Of you are ever in such a tight
fix as was ten minutes ago you'll find
as brave hearts to help you as I've done. !"
'.Amen to that!" Frank said. ''Now
satisfy our curiosity by telling us who
you are and where you are from?"
shark Henderson, at your service,
Captain of Zagonyi's cavalry, and now
or at least dozen hours ago-on the
staff of General Lyon. started at
dawn with guide to try and make
communication with troops that are
supposed to have left Kansas City to
come to our aid, but the rascally villain
led me right into that nest of hornets
you saw buzzing about my ears
''And am on my way to General
Lyon to tell him that those very troops
are hurrying by forced march to join
him." Frank CALCULATED.
Henderson looked keenly at the
speaker.
''It's rather a curious dodge, isn't it??''
he said, ''to rig you up in private's uni
torm2 What rank do you hold in the
seryice?"
Just what you see-full private
that is ALL"
'"Then your Colonel must have fine
regiment if his rank and file are filled
by such as you. Give me your hand,
my boy, you will have your commission
before the month is out, Or I'm no judge
Of matters"
'''T appears ter me, you two uns is
gassin' a toIble sight too much.
Wouldn't it be jess es sensible eff yer
was ter put a few more miles atween
you an them gorillas afore yer got so
tonguey."
The hint was too valuable to be dis
regarded, so once more they resumed
their journey. Ii they could have gone
in a direct line they would have reached
Springfield by night-fall, but they were
so often obliged to make detours to
avoid the enemy that when darkness
came On they were obliged to camp in
the woods till daylight. And when
dawn came the roaring Of guns and
gathering of small-arnns in the near dis
lance told them that for all their dreary
ride and headlong speed they were too
late.
Up a steep hill before them they rode
in haste, and on mounting it's crest,
though the sky was but just cleaning
with the rays Of the newly risen sun,
the whole panorama Of the battlefield
lay before them.
"Wi]son's creek, by thunder! An 1
thought we was ten miles away" Dick
Swayne cried, as he dashed his spurs
in his horses flank and galloped down
the declivity.
AS they rode they could see the
armies of either side 1nassing-Ben Ne
Culloch with MS fifteen thousand
fighting men from Arkansas-Lyon and
Siegel with their five thousand, some OF
whom had borne themselves so we'll at
Boonville
In the mad ride doyvn the hillside
Franks horse tripped on root OF d
tree, hurting him to the ground with a
force that for the time stunned him,
and when he recovered his senses, it
was only to see the beast hurrying at
full speed after his companions.
Picking himself up us best as he could,
he started on run. 1t was no easy
task to reach the Union lines, but he
got there at last. BY this time Siegel
had moved on the right flank of the
enemy and driven the Confederate lines
back, while Lyon with four thousand
men and ten guns had hurled himself
against them on the left.
Frank in the hurly-bnrly of battle
was running hither and thither. Sud
denly he saw before him bare-headed
man on horseback, whose uniform he
recognized at once.
General Lyon, sir!" he cried, cling
ing almost breathless to his stirrup-
leather. Colonel Fulton has sent me to
tell you that troops from Kansas City
are on their way to your relief"
s"Too late-always too late!" was the
sad reply.
Just then a cry came from the First
Iowa Regiment that they had no Colonel.
''Who will lead us?" rang from a hum
dred throats.
Frank saw General Lyon dash to their
front, and heard him cry:
81 will lead you! Onward, brave boys
of Iowa''
Picking up musl1et that had fallen
from a wounded soldiers hand, Frank
threw himself into the ranks of the
advancing regiment, ever keeping his
eyes on that glorious warrior in front
Oh, God! what's that? The saber
drops from the listless arm, the stately
figure reels and falls, and che gallant
General drops to the earth with bullet
crashing through his heart
CHAPTER vi.
BY THE CAMPFIRE.
Though the Union army was defeated at
Wilson'S creek, it was not by any means
crushed, Major Sturgis, upon whom the
command devolved, making mastery
retreat. Frank Besant fraternized with
the Iowa boys, by whom he was cred
tied with some gallant conduct, though
the din of battle had seemed to him
like a dream hard to remember at the
awakening. Of course he had fired as
long as his ammunition lasted, and
used his bayonet like the rest OF them;
but as for any particular act OF heroism,
- r,,,h +bo,,o had been III had entirely