Middletown transcript., 1892-03-03

but my throat was as dry as furnace
and I could only gasp. And-will
you believe it2-my musket missed
fire Name of a name, what state !
was in ! There was the enemy COM
ing on under cover of the mist and
there was I, the only man who could
save our army, standing dumb like a
useless fool
What must do came to me like a
flash. If / ran back inside of our
lines to give the alarm, the chances
were thousand to one that the enemy
would have the outlaying redoubt,
very likely would have them both,
and would turn. the guns before help
could come. But I knew, at least /
hoped, that there was time for me to
get to the more exposed redeubt
ahead of them and give the word to
spike the guns. It was all in an in.
slant, / say, that I found this thought
in my mind, and my musket and cart,
ridge-box thrown don't know where,
aud myself dashing off through the
mist across the broken ground like a
deer.
As 1 rushed into the redoubt our
men thought that was the Russians;
and when they knew me by my uni
form for Frenchmap, and heard me
crying in horse whisper, Spike the
guns 7 they thought that I was mad.
But the lieutenant in command of the
battery had at least little sense,
even if he did not have much courage,
and be looked toward where I pointed
and then he saw the shakos, as the
mist lifted again, not hundred feet
away.
"Save yourselves, will make the
guns safe he cried TO his men-he
was not all coward, poor fellow
and as they ran for it he picked up
the spikes and the hammer. Tapl
tap tap one gun was spiked. Tap !
tap tap1 another. Then we heard
the Russins beginning to scramble up
outside.
He swore a great oath as he drop
ped the hammer. It cant be done
Run catP he cried-and away he
started after his men. The name that
called him as he ran away, Nom
sieur, was a very foul name God
forgive me for what l said But | was
determined that it should be done. In
second I had picked up the nails
and the hammer, and-tap! tap
tap 1.-THE third gun was safe. Run,
cat 7 heard the lieutenant call
again. But-tap!-I had the nail
started in the last gun, and then,
right above me, was Russian major
and with him dozen of his men.
Tap! and had the nail halfway
home as the major jumped down be.
side me, with his sword raised.
knew that I could parry his blow
with the hammer and then, possibly,
get away but wanted to make sure
that that gun could not be turned
And so-it was quick thinking that |
did Just then, Monsieur-tap! and the
gun was no better than old iron Al
that same infant it seemed to me that
the whole world burst into q tre-
mendous roar and ten thousands blaz
ing stars but it only was the sword o
that confounded Russian major bang
ing against my skullf'
The little woman was almost sob
bing. She took her husbands hand
in both of hers.
But you see that was not killed
little one," he said /; and he raised hel
hands to his and kissed them.
1t was not until the next day.
Monsieur" he went on, that knew
anything. Then was in the hospital
"How did it go?' | asked of the
hospital steward.
"shut up, said the steward.
"This made me angry. How die
it go, poisson 2 / cried: Tell me
or I'll crush your bones.
"Then the man was more civil
The Russians were driven back, h.
said, and lot of them were captur.
ed. You owe it to the same Rus
sian major who almost killed you tina
your life was saved. As soon as be
was brought into camp he sent
message to the general begging tina
you might be looked after quickly. Il
there was any life left in you, it was
worth saving, he said, for you were I
brave man-and he told how you had
spiked those last two guns. Parbleu
but for that message you would hav,
died. When they brought you il
here you we're nearly gone
60 And the lieutenant who raj
away?' l asked.
"Oh, he was killed-as he deserv
ed. Now you know all about it. Holc
your tongue
"I felt SO foolishly weak, and ther
Was such pain in my head as | be
gan to remember it all once more
that could not ask any more ques
tions. Presently my head began t
buzz and the pain in it to get worse