Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-07-16

acutely, as at the instant when a vio-
lent and foreseen death overtakes one.
could smell the resinous fagots,
could see every twig upon the ground,
could hear every rustic of the
branches, as have never smelled, or
seen, or heard, save at such times Of
danger. And so it was that, long be-
fore anyone else, before even the time
when the chief had addressed me, had
heard low, monotonous sound, far
away, indeed, and yet coming nearer
at every instant. AT first it was but
murmur, rumble, but by the time he
had finished speaking, while the assas-
sins were untying my ankles in order to
lead me to the scene of my murder, I
heard, as plainly as ever heard any
thing in my life, the climbing of horse
shoes, and the jingling of bride chains,
with the clank of sabers against stirrup
irons. Is it likely that I, who had lived
with the light cavalry since the first
hair shaded my lip, would mistake the
sound of troopers on the march? "Help,
comrades, help!" shrieked, and though
they struck me across the mouth and
tried to drag me up to the tree, kept
on yelling: Help me, my brave boysl
Help me, my childrenl They are MUIR
dering your colonel!" For the moment
my wounds and my troubles had brought
on delirium, and looked for nothing
less than my five hundred hussars,
kettle-drums and all, to appear at the
opening of the glade.
But that which really appeared was
very different to anything which had
conceived. Into the clear space there
came galloping fine young man upon
most beautiful roam horse. He was
fresh faced and pleasant looking, with
the most debonnaire bearing in the
world and the most gallant way Of
carrying himself, way which re-
minded me somewhat of my own. He
wore a singular coat which had once
been red all over, but which was now
stained to the color OF. a withered oak
leaf wherever the weather could reach
it. His shoulder straps, however, were
Of golden lace, and he had bright
metal helmet upon his head with q
coquettish white plume upon one side
of its crest. He trotted his horse up the
| glade, while behind him there rode -four
cavaliers in the same dress-all clean
shaven, with round comely faces, look
ing to me more like monks thar
dragons. At short gruff order they
halted with rattle of arms, while theil
leader cantered forward, the fire beat
ing upon his eager face and the beauti
full head of his charger. l knew o:
course by the strange coats that they
were English. 1t was the first sight
that had ever had Of them, but from
their stout bearing and their masterfu
way could see at glance that what
had always been told was true, and tina
they were excellent people to fgh
against.
"Well, we'll, well!' cried the young
.f1cer, in sufficiently bad French
"What devils game are you up to here
Who was that who was yelling 70,
help, and what are you trying to do t,
him?"
1t was at that moment that learned
to bless those months which Obriant
the descendant of the Irish kings, hat
spent in teaching me the tongue Of tn,
English. My ankles had just bee,
freed, SO that had only to slip m,
hands out Of the cords, and with
single rush I had flown across, picket
up my saber where 1t lay by the fire
and hurled myself onto the saddle o
poor Vidal's horse. Yes, for all m,
wounded ankle, never put foot t,
stirrup, but was in the seat In singh
bound. tore the halter from tn
!, tree, and before those villains could s
much as snap pistol at me was be
side the English officer.
81 surrender to you. SIR" l cried
though dare say my English was no
much better than his French. "If yo
will look at that tree TO the left yo
will see what these villains do to tn
honorable gentlemen who fall int
their hands,"
The fire had Aared up ut the me
ment, and there was poor Vidal expose