The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-06-05

dangerous spot; don't you hear
. bullets rafting like hail, round ii
building?" 1870 u
, Yes, but there is no danper wbo
stand, presume, but II there wer
| could no longer forbear Watching n
issue OF a contest in which my ow
rate as well as that of my friende, is {
deeply involved" replied Sabrey, wit
desperate calmness, as she continue
TO rivet her gaze on the field below.
lf you will look, then,' said tn
other, tell me what you see goin
II will" answered the former. go
far az l can distinguish any move
ments. But at present, both sides ar
80 completely concealed in the smok
that enshrouds them, that / can onl
discern dark forms in active motto
along the lines, as the blaze OF thei
lire arms reveals portions of thei
ranks. The struggle, however. is ey
identity dreadful one In that con
tinued, deafening crash which yo,
hear, flames and smoke seem to be vom
tied forth from the earth, as il from tn
mouth of Volcano"
There seems to be less firm,
now" observed Vine after listening ii
silence few minutes. Can you per
ceive any new movements afoot? Cam
you distinguish any OF the words o
command, or anything that is sale
among that uproar of voices which. be
tween the booming of the cannon, onct
IN while, plainly reaches my ears?'
"Ay." returned the other, intent,
bending her ear towards the scene oil
action" | think | can now.
Hank +! | hear one voice in particular
rising loud over all others; but it il
the voice OF one in prayer, invoking
the God of battles to strike with the
free, and aid in bringing down quick
destruction on their foes. How might.
lily he cries TO Heaven for succor and
success -
Where is he? among the rest in
the fight?"
No not directly in the battle,
should think but little aloof in the
rear of this end of the American lines.
There! l can now distinguish his form
coming obliquely out of the smoke IN
this direction"
WHO is he?"
know not; but he seems ven
cradle old man, and his long, white
locks are streaming in the wind, as,
with grasped musket in his hands.
and the cry of The sword of the Lord
and Gideon on his lips, he rushes
towards the foe. ~
] What! to encounter them alone?"
!" Yes, alone, and in advance of all
others. Now he takes his stand in
front of group of tories partially con-
cealed by the bushes on the bank of
the stream. There The raises his gun,
and crying, God have mercy on your
soul, fires, and his victim pitches head
long to the ground. They return his
fire, but harm him not; and he again
raises his gun, and, with the same
prayer for mercy on the soul of the
foeman he has singled out, fires, and
another tory falls heavily to the earth
Mercy! they are now pushing forward
to STAY the old man but now they are
met by part of the Americans, run
ming forward with shouts, For the res
cue of Father Herriot both sides fire:
and again all are enveloped in the
cloud Of smoke that rolls over them. p"
Father Herriot-Father Herriot,
said Vine, musingly. 81 have heard
great deal said about one they call Fa
ther Herriot, lately hut can he be here
fghting?''
why, who is he, that he should
not be hereg asked the other
"A sort of preacher, believe" an
swered Vine, "but rich enough to have
bought several large tory estates X
though where he came from, or how he
got so much hard money as he seems
to have, nobody can tell. "
fresh and general outbreak be-
tween the opposing lines here inter.
tupted the conversation, and turned
Sabrey's attention again to the field.
And for nearly another fearful hour
lid she keep her stand at the window,
needless of the danger from the bullets
which were whistling round her head,
and unable in the agonizing anxiety |
sh e felt for the result. to withdraw her
Eyes from that dread field, where the
continued thunders of the artillery and |
nusketry, shaking the solid earth along |
he line of conflict proclaimed the bat
lie to be still raging with undated
ury.
At length, brisk breeze sprang up
n the northwest, and the battle cloud
rolled heavily away before it from the
field, disclosing. rot only the relative
POSITIONS of the opposing forces, but
The awful picture of carnage that ev-
rywhere strewed the blackened earth.
Mutually anxious to avail themselves
# this opportunity to ascertain each
,ther's situation, both parties at once
suspended operations. for the purpose
f obtaining observations which should
nable them to resume the battle with
more deadly effect. The deafening roar
# musketry which, for nearly two
ours had shaken the embattled PLAIN
ike one continued peal of thunder,
vas now heard bling away, in dying
echoes. among the far-off hills, leaving
uly the monotonous din of the mar
jai music, kept up to drown the cries
{ the wounded, and the heavy boom
ny ofBaum's artillery, that still main
aimed it's regular fire on the hill,
houpb only to send-as it now became
vident it had done from the first-its
ron missile high and harmlessly over
he heads of the Americans, into the
DDS of the crashing forest beyond.
..Is the battle over?" asked Vine, as
he noise of fire arms thus subsidized.
"No-that is, l conclude not, -" hes
tatingly answered the other, still more
loosely riveting her anxious gaze on
he unfolding scene before her: No,
think not-trust not; for the British
eff remain unconquered.
"Can you see them now"'
Eyes: the wind is driving away the
noke and both armies are now fast
ecoming visible
.Do our men maintain their
round?"
CAV. and more. They have advanced
lmost TO the hostile intrenchments; !,
nd there they stand face to face with