The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-10

Of the faraway sharpshooters, and the
men, leaning upon their rifles. stared at
the grove of naples. once private
turned to borrow some tobacco from a
comrade in the rear rank. but, with ms
hand still stretched out, he continued
to twist his head and glance at the
distant trees He was afraid the enemy
would shoot him at time when he was
not looking.
Suddenly the artillery ofhcer salu:
''See what's coming"'
Along the rear of the brigade OF In
fantry a column of cavalry was sweep
ing at hard gallop. A lieutenant rid
ing some yards to the right of the COL
umn bawled furiously at the four troop
ers Just at the rear of the colors. Iney
had lost distance and made little gap,
but at the shouts of the lieutenant,
they urged their horses forward. The
bugler, careering along behind the cap
tain of the troop, fought and tugged
like a wrestler to keep his frantic ami
NAL from boiling far ahead of the col
umn.
On the springy turf the innumerable
hoofs thundered in a swift storm OF
sound. In the brown faces of the troop
ers. their eyes were set like bits Of
flashing steel.
The long line of the infantry regi-
ments standing at ease underwent a
sudden movement at the rush of the
passing squadron The foot soldiers
turned their heads to gaze at the tor
rent of horses and men.
The yellow folds of the flag fluttered
hack in silken shuddering waves. as if
it were a reluctant thing. Occasionally
a giant spring of the charger would rear
the firm and steady figure of a soldier
suddenly head and shoulders above his
comrades. Over the noise of the scud-
ding hoofs could be heard the creaking
of leather trappings, the jingle and
clank of steel and the tense low-toned
commands or appeals of the men to
their horses. And the horses were mad
with the headlong sweep of this move
ment. Powerful underjaws bended back
and straigtened so that the bits We're
clamped as rigidly as vises upon the
teeth, and glistening necks arched in
desperate resistance to the hands at
the brides. Swinging their heads in
rage at the granite laws of their lives
which bended even their angers and
their ardors to chosen directions and
chosen faces, their flight was as flight
of harnessed demons.
The captains bay kept its pace at the
head Of the squadron with the 1.-the
horse was proud as chief at the roar
ing trample of his fellows behind him.
The captains glance was calmly upon
the grove of naples from whence the
sharpshooters of the enemy had been
picking at the blue line. He seemed
to be rejecting. He stolidly rose and
fell with the plunges Of his horse in all
the Indifference of a deacon's figure
seated plumply in church. And 1t oc-
CURED to many of the watching infan-
try to wonder why this officer could re-
main imperturbable and reflective when
his squadron was laundering and
swarming behind him like the rushing
OF flood
The column swung In sabre-curve
toward break in fence and dashed
into a roadway. Once little plank
bridge was encountered, and the sound
OF the hoefs upon it was like the long
roll of many drums. An old captain in
the infantry turned to his first lieuten-
ant and made a remark which was
compound of bitter disparagement of
cavalry in general and soldierly admir-
alton of this particular troop.
Suddenly the bugle sounded and the
column halted with jOlting upheaval
amid sharp. brief cries. A moment
later the men had tumbled from their
horses and carbines In hand were rum
ming In swarm towards the grove of
NAPLES. In the road. one Of every four
of the troopers were standing with
braced legs and pulling and hauling at
the brides of four frenzied horses,
The captain was running awkwardly
In his boots. He held his sabre low so
that the point often threatened to catch
in the turf His yellow hair ruffled out
from under his faded cap. go in hard
now" he roared in q voice Of hoarse
fury. His face was violently red.
The troopers threw themselves upon
the grove like wolves upon a great ami