The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-08

Gawd." His further words were lost
in roar of wicked thunder from the
mems rifles.
The youths eyes had instantly
turned in the direction indicated by
the awakened and agitated lieutenant,
and he had seen the haze of treashery
disclosing u body of soldiers of the
enemy. They were SO near that he
could see their features. There was a
recognition as he looked at the types
of faces. Also he perceived with dim
amazement that their uniforms were
rather gay in effect, being light gray
plcntifully accented with brilliant
hued facing. Too, the clothes seemed
new.
These troops hadapparently been go
ing forward, with caution, their
rifles held in readiness, when the
youthful lieutenant had discovered
them and their movement had been in
terrupted by the volley from the blue
regiment. From the moments glimpse,
it was derived that they had been un-
aware Of the proximity of their dark
suited foes, or, had mistaken the dirccZ
ton. Almost instantly, they were shut
utterly from the youths sight by the
smoke from the energetic rifles of his
companions. lie strained his vision to
learn the accomplishment Of the volley,
but the smoke hung before him.
The two bodies of troops exchanged
blows in the manner of pair of box
ers. The fast, angry firings went back
and forth. The men in blue were in
tent with the despair Of their circum-
stances, and they seized upon the re-
venge to be had at close range. Their
thunder swelled loud and valiant.
Their curving front bristled with
flashes and the place resounded with
the clangor of their ramrods. The
youth duclied and lodged for time,
and achieved a few unsatisfactory
views of the enemy. There appeared
to be many of them, and they were re-
plying swiftly. They seemed moving
toward the blue regiment step by step.
He seated himself gloomily on the
ground with his flag between his
knees.
AS he noted the vicious, wolf-like
temper of his comrades he had a
sweet thought that if the enemy was
about to swallow the regimental broom
as large prisoner it could at least
have the consolation of going down
with bristles forward.
But the blows of the antagonist be-
gan to grow more weak. Fewer bull
let's ripped the air, and finally, when
the men slackened to learn of the
fight, they could see only dark, float
ing smoke. The regiment lay still and
gazed. Presently some chance whim
came to the pestcring blur and it be-
gan to coil heavily away. The men
saw ground vacant of fighters. 1t
would have been an empty stage if it
were not for q few corpses that lay
thrown and twisted into fantastic
shapes upon the sward. At sight of
this tableau many of the men in blue
sprang from behind their covers and
made an ungainly dance of JOY. Their
eyes burned and a hoarse cheer of Ella
tion broke from their dry lips.
1t had begun to seem to them that
events We're trying to prove that they
were impotent Fate had evidently
endeavorcd to demonstrate that the
men could not fight well. When on
the verge of submission to these opin-
ions the small duel had showed them
that the proportions were not impos-
sible, and by it they had revenged
themselves upon their misgivings and
upon the foe.
The impetus of enthusiasm was theirs
again. They gazed about them with
looks of uplifted pride, feeling new
trust in the grim always-confdent
weapons in their hands. q.