San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-28

under cover of a tangled brake he could
find their way to the American army,
which he knew occupied slight ridge
just beyond.
Grampus was a great coward in one
way, but in another he was as coura-
geous as a lion. He had mortal fear of a
gun, and he well understood that if a
picket or outpost sentinel should see him
creeping along in this furtive manner
there could be no doubt as to what
would happen. 1t is due to him, how
ever, to say that he thought more of the
danger to his young mistress than of
what might befall him in such calam-
ity.
Fortune seemed to favor them as they
advanced, for, as Grampus had shrewd-
ly foreseen, the little, deep. ditchlike
stream that ran in the midst of the brake,
and formed a sort of loop or horseshoe
projecting between the British and the
American lines, had been deemed i'm
passable, and SO had been left practically
unguarded by both armies.
The old negro knew every inch of the
ground, and so was able to find the only
place over which footman might safely
pass. Thither he conducted Rose. After
a long and toilsome scramble through
the thick growth and over the coffee col
ored stream, which in the dark sent up
a sort of gloomy sparkle, they at length
found themselves once more on the mar
gin of the opening already mentioned;
but they were now between the opposing
lines at a point about equidistant from
each, and the first faint streak of day
was visible to the watchful eye of Gram
pus.
I'VE got ter be in er hurry now," he
whispered, 40 it gwine to be broad day
light in less an no time"
He stood for a minute considering what
course to pursue. His heart was begin
ming to fail him, but he did not let Rose
know it. Bracing his will as best he
could he led her on, still trying to keep
within the cover of the fast thinning
forest.
Rose was growing faint in spite of her
resolution. Her feet were wet, chill
was in her blood, and the long walk,
coupled with the excitement, had told
upon her strength. She held fast to the
arm of Grampus, whose faithfulness
made her situation endurable, and by
the most desperate efforts she kept from
sinking down.
All at once a dozen rockets leaped
high in the air with great rushing
noise, and with fare of red light col
ored the landscape and the sky. At the
same time there was burst of cannon
and mortar firing that shook the ground.
Shells went screaming overhead, and
round shot came humping and humping
through the wood.
DE good Lordy" exclaimed Grampus,
I'VE done gonel Oh, what we gwine
do, Miss Rose? WHAT
A shell plunged into marshy spot
near them, and exploding there flung
the mud and water in every direction.
The funnel shaped hole blasted out by
it was full of clinging smoke and gas.
Grampus fell upon his knees and began
to pray. In an instant Rose felt her
nerves become like steel.
Get up, Grampus," she ordered, in
voice as steady as the best trained
soldiers. Get upl There is going to be
battle"
Far and near a loud hum arose, and
sl5sn the batteries began to belch and
boom rhythmically all along the lines A
sound of martial music swelled through
the increasing din, and then came
mighty volley Of human voices, as the
French and Americans swarmed out OF
their lines and formed for an assault.
"Oh, what we gwine ter do? What
we gwine ter do?" was all that poor old
Grampus could say, as he arose in ODE
dience to the command of his young
mistress
To the right of them level flood of
missiles was crashing through the low
trees and the patches of canebrake. On
their left Rose saw a body Of men form
ing in close order For few moments
there was strange lull, which was fol
lowed by an awful laundering of the
guns and wild, gust like rush of fiery
missiles, and then the allied forces
stormed. The air palpitated, the earth
trembled, the sky was like sea of fire.
Amidst it all Rose saw the charging col
umns sweep along toward the British
works, that as yet were grim and silent
as line of tombs. She was so absorbed
in the sight that she did not hear the APP
proach of a body of troops that was
making its way through the thin woods.
A loud order in a clear, familiar voice
startled her and at the same time filled
her with joy. 1t was Prescott leading
on his men. She looked and saw him a
little way off, his face pale but deter
mined, his step as Quick and firm as a