San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-30

Vi personal responsibility for his little
command. 1t is doubtless true, how
ever, that the stimulus of great excite
ment made his vision quicker and clearer.
By the broadening gray light of day and
by the lurid flashes of the guns and of
the flaming missiles launched by both
armies he recognized Rose instantly.
When did lover ever fail to recognize his
mistress at glance? The voice of itself
was sufficient, but there was the pale.
beautiful face, with its aureole of shin
ing hair, and with its eyes, like no other
eyes to him, flaming in passionate en-
treaty. A single second he stood, then
his sword went up and he sprang toward
her. ~
''Unhand her and defend YOURSELF" he
cried, with that lofty show of chivalry
so much in vogue in those days.
Maynard was not slow to respond.
Putting Rose behind him with his left
hand he cried out:
"Come on. am always ready"
1t was at this moment that the men
recognized each other and, as if the
mutual impression had some effect of re-
pulsion, they recoiled slightly and stood
glazing fiercely, gathering themselves
for the utmost of deadly effort. When
their swords crossed it was as if the
clash had been the signal for a doubling
and trebling of the din of battle. At the
farther part of the open field the French
were now storming up to the very face
of the British works under concen-
trated fire delivered level along the
ground and absolutely unbearable With
courage that was melodramatic in its
display the brave fellows, led by Count
d'Estaing in person, forced on against
the tide of death, foundering through
the mire and scrambling over mucky
bitches, but all in vain. Back they were
hurled like dry leaves before wind.
Prescott and Maynard took no notice of
this brilliant but ill fated rush. They
thought of nothing, they dared think of
nothing but their own personal struggle.
They fought with fervid eagerness and
with that concentrated force naturally
engendered by the situation. Their
swords leaped and flashed and changed so
rapidly that one blow was scarcely sep
arated from another.
Rose stood rigid and breathless, white
as marble and cold as if dead, watching
the desperate engagement. Prescott
was not as strong as Maynard, and suf-
fered the added disadvantage of WELD
ing a much shorter weapon; but his
great suppleness and agility did much
to set him on an equal footing with his
ponderous and resolutely calm antago-
mist. From the first Prescott was the
assailant, and so fercely and nimbly did
he address himself to the desire of the
moment that the best strength and skill
of Maynard were called into most violent
and constant activity.
The Englishman, however, was sure
to win unless some fortuitous circum-
stance should cast deadly advantage
into Prescott's hand. Round and round
they fought. Maynard always keeping
Rose behind him and leering at his OPP
ponent with an expression of malignant
hatred, heightened by the effect of the
still ivid scar across his cheek made
long before in similar contest. Pres
colt was ever forcing the fight and in
creasing his intensity of effort with each
cut or thrust. All around in the swamp,
and scattered through the thinner parts
of the wood, running, rafting fire of
musketry was mingled with shouts and
imprecations, while out across the open
field still poured the heavy, believing
tide of the battle.
When Maynard saw that the vehe-
mence of the young lieutenant was be-
ginning to tell upon his strength he
changed his manner of fighting, and at
once began rushing assault with all
his reserve force. Rose saw this ire
mendous effort, and, without knowing
what she did, grasped the Englishman
around the body and tried to hold him
back. This did not appear to trouble
Maynard in the least. 1t is probable
that he did not notice it, so savagely in
earnest was he in pressing down upon
his weaker antagonist, who was now some
what entangled in clump of small BUSH
es that hindered his movements. Anoth-
er minute must have ended the combat
in Maynard's favor, although Rose was
struggling desperately to embarrass him
and render his arm unsteady. Prescott
was no longer fighting; he was merely
straining to defend himself. Grampus,
who up to this time had been praying in
abject terror, suddenly observed the sit
uation, and at the same time caught the
overweight, almost crazed look on the
face of Rose.
Come, Grampus, Gomez she walled;
"come, l tell your
The old negro leaped up and sprang
forward furnishing n heavy club