The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-15

had not pulled me back should have run
/ on TO the petard which drove in the second
gate As II was passed through the sec
ond obstacle side by side with the king
/ but went no further The garrison was
i awake now and a whitening fire from
| ntty arquebuses swept the narrow bridge;
nose VINO were not struck fell over the
| dying; the air was filled with screams
ana cries; moment and the very bravest
recoiled and sought safety behind the
second gate, where we stood in shelter.
The moment was critical, for now the
whole city was aroused. Shouts of tri-
umph rose above the eraclSle of the guns;
IN every tower bells tangled nOisely, and
on the summit Of the third gateway, which
from every lOOphole and window poured
on us deadly hail of slugs, a beacon-fire
olazed up, turning the black water below
US to blood.
I have said the moment was critical
for France and for US. For a few sec
sprang forward, and by his side Capt
Robert, who had fixed the first petard
They darted along the bridge. but only
70 ran and lie groaning half way over.
Henry made a movement as if to fol-
low, but young NJ. de ROsny held him
back, while half dozen soldiers made the
attempt. or these, however, four fell IN
der the pitiless fire, and two crawled back
wounded. 1t seemd that a man must be
more than mortal to pass that place; at
any rate, while one might count twenty
no one moved.
Capt. Robert lay scarcely fifteen PAGES
from US, and by his side the hammer
carried with him, all visible in
the glow of rudy light that poured on
the bridge. Suddenly, while 1 stood pant
ing and irresolute, longing, yet not daring
since 1 saw older men hang back-sud-
denly hand twitched my sleeve. and
turned to find at my elbow, his hair
streaming back from his brow, Antoinel
The lads face and eyes flashed scorn at
me. He waved his hand toward the
bridge.
"Cowardr' he cried, and he struck me
| lightly on the cheek with his hand
Coward. Now follow me!'
And, before any one could stay him. he
darted from the shelter of the gateway
in which We stood. and raced across the
| bridge. heard great shout on our side,
and the roar of a volley; but dull only,
for. enraged by the blow and the chal-
lenge, I followed him-I and a dozen
others. Some fell, but he ran on and I
after him. He snatched up the petard and
the hammer, / the spike. In a moment,
as it seemed to me, we were at the farther
gate attaching the engine to it. held the
spike. he hammered it, the smoke and
the frowning archway to some extent
protecting us from those above.
often think of those few seconds with
pride. While they lasted we stood alone.
bridge from our friends. For few sec
onds only; then, with a yell of triumph,
the remains of Henry's ''forlorn'' rushed
forward. and though many fell, enough
the engine from us, and secured the fuse
and lit it. and bore us back-I was going
TO say out OF uduEGTs Out didS. dS a uedI-
ening crash and a blaze of binding light
proclaimed the way open and the gate
down, he who had done the deed, and
opened the way, fell across me, shot
from a loophole! AS the rain of frag-
ments from the gate fell kissing and
splashing in the stream that flowed below,
and the foot streamed over the bridge
and pressed through the breach, Antoine
gave a little gasp and died on my knee.
The rest all men know; how through
five days and nights we fought the great
street fight of Cahors; how we took no
rest, save against walls and doorways;
how we ate and drank with hands smirch-
ed with blood. and then to it again; how
we won the city house by house and foot
bv foot until at last the white flag waved
| from the great tower, and France awoke
with a start to know that in the young
| prince of pleasure, whom she had deemed
| a trifer was born the shrewdest states
| man and the boldest soldier of all her roy
| al line.
And Antoinei When I went, after many
! hours, to seek him, the horse had crossed
| the bridge, even his body was gone. How
he had traced us, how he managed to come
| to the front so opportunity. whether with
| out him the star of Navarro would have
! risen so gloriously on that night of 80 l
| cannot say. But when / hear men talk of
| Crillon and courage-above all, when
| hear them talk of the tops and popiniays
| of to-day, think of my comrade and rival
who won Cahors for the king. And smile
! II smile