The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-30

my hair. and even, as | must confess.
weeping from time to time as | thought
ny>hussars and the deplorable condi-
in which they must find them
YES when deprived Of a colonel. |
as not brigradier yet, you under
md. although / already carried my
like one. But | was the youngest
|tnal in the whole service, and my
giment was wife and children to me.
went to my heart that they should
.bereaved. 1t is true that Villaret,
Ine senior major, was an excellent
soIdier, but still even among the best
there are degrees Of merit.
All, that happy July day of which I
speak when first / limped to the door
and stood in the golden Spanish sun
shine. 1t was but the evening before
that I had heard from the regiment.
They We're at Pastores on the other
side of the mountains face to face with
the English--not forty miles from me
by road. But how was I to get to
them? The same thrust which had
>pierced my ankle had slain my charger.
F took advice from Gomez, the landlord,
and from an old priest who had slept
that night in the inn, but neither Of
hem could do more than assure me
hat there was not 50 much as colt
lft upon the whole country side. The
ndlord would not hear Of my cross
hg the mountains without an escort,
pr he assured me that FL Cuchillo, the
\anish guerilla chief, was out that
ly with his band, and that it meant a
ath by torture to fall into his hands,
e old priest observed, however, that
did not think a French hussar
luld be deferred by that, and if I
d had any doubts they would Of
urse have been decided by his re-
mark.
But a horse! How was 7 to get one?
was standing in the doorway plotting
Md planning when | heard the clnk Of
shoes, and, looking up | saw a great
bearded man with blue cloak frogged
across in military fashion coming
toward me. He was riding a big
black horse with one white stocking on
his near foreleg.
"Hullo, comrader' said I, as he came
up to me.
"Hullo!' said he
81 am Colonel Gerard, of the hus-
sars," said l. "I have lain wounded
for a month, and I am now ready to
rejoin my regiment at Pastorcs."
Il am NJ. Vidal, of the commssariat,"
he answered, "and | am myself upon
my way to PastOres. ] should be glad
pio have your company, colonel for I
pear that the mountains are far from
Safe."
"Alas!' said I, 81 have no horse. But
If you will sell me yours I will prom
ise that an escort of hussars shall be
sent back for you"
He would not hear of it, and It was
in vain that the landlord told him
dreadful stories of the doings of El
Cuchillo, and that | pointed out the
duty which he owed the army and to
the country. He would not even argue
but called loudly for cup of wine. I
craftily asked him to dismount and to
drink with me, but he must have seen
something In my face, for he shook his
head, and then as | approached him
with some thought of seizlng him by
the leg he jerked his heels into his
horses flanks and was off in a cloud of
>dust.
My faith, 1t was enough to make n
man mad to see this fellow riding away
so gayly to join his beef barrels and his
brandy casks, and then to think of my
five hundred beautiful hussars without
their leader. / was gazing after him
with bitter thoughts in my mind when
who should touch me on the elbow but
the little priest whom / have men,
toned.
1T is I who can help you said he,
'I am myself travelling south"
/ put my arms about him and as my
ankle gave way at the same moment
we neatly rolled upon the ground to-
gether.
Get me to Pastores," erich ''and
you shall have a rosary golden