Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-04-30

about'and let fig with my pistol at him. H'
spun round twice and dropped, which was
wondering at-the pistol being but pool
weapon for aim-when was caught by the
arm and pulled behind clump OF bushe:
handy by. TTwasthe man with the wen, anc
by his smoking musket knew that twas be
had fired the shot that killed my pursuer.
- GOOD turn for good turn, says he; ''quicE
with thy other pistol"
The other two had stopped doubtfully, but
at the next discharge Of my pistol they
turned tail and went UP the hill again, anc
we were left alone. And suddenly 1 grew
aware that my head was aching fit to split
and lay down on the turf, very sick and Ill.
! 'Twould be tedious to tell the whole Of this
'ong fight, which, beginning soon after sunrise
ended not till in the afternoon, or there
aOOuts; 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 time beaten back, were painting under
cover of a hedge, and Sir John Berkeley,
near by, was writing on 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 BeviIl Twas q have since learned) to
say that the powder was all spent but a
barrel or two; but this only the captains
knew at the time.
every well, then" cries Sir Bevill, leaping
up gayly. "Come along, boys-we must do
it this time.n And, the troop forming, once
more the trumpets sounded the charge, and
up we went. Away along the slope we heard
the other trumpeters sounding in answer, and
I believe twas sursum corda! to all Of us.
Billy Pottery was ranged on my right, in
the first rank, and next to me, on the other
side, giant, near seven foot high, who said
his name was Anthony Payne and his bust
ness to act as body servant to Sir Bevill.
And he it was that struck up a mighty Curl
Gus song in the Cornish tongue, which the
rest took up with a will. Twas Incredible
how it put fire into them all; and Sir Bevill
tossed his hat into the air, and after him like
schOolbOys we pelted, straight for the masses
ahead
For now over the rampant came a COM
pany of red musketeerS, and two of russell
clad pikemen, charging down on us. A mo-
ment and we were 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 ike this! Inc hTst red coat
that encountered me l had spitted through
the lung, and, carried on by the rush, he
twirled me round like windmill In an in
slant l was passed; the giant stepping before
. and clearing a space about him, using his
pike as if 'twere fail With a wrench l
rugged my sword out and followed. I saw
Sir Bevill, little to the left, beaten to his
knee and carried towards me. Stretching
out hand pulled him on his feet again,
catching, as l did so, crack on the skull
that would have ended me had not Billy Pot
terry pat up his pike and broke the force of
it. Next, remember gripping another red
coat by the beard and thrusting at him with
shortened blade. Then the giant ahead lifted
his pike high, and we fought to rally round
it; and with that seemed caught off my feet
and swept forward-and we were on the
crest.
Taking breath, 1 saw the enemy melting off
the summit like mans breath of a pane.
And Sir Bevill caught my hand and pointed
across to where, on the north side, white
standard embroidered with gold grifins was
mounting.
"'Tis dear Nick Slanningr' he cried; God
be praised-the day is ours for certaiuI"