The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-11-23
MY INVINCIBLE FOE.

uTedk OI udy. fOr more imam an hOur
we tramped along with eyes and hear
ing alert, but saw no sign of the enemy
until we arrived at point where the
highroad branched off into innumerable
pathways through large wood.
had paused to consider which was
the most advisable route to follow
when | heard coming toward us the
sound of horses feet, the unmistakable
tramp, tramp of cavalry.
1t was the work of moment for me
to post my men behind the shelter of a
hedge, and there we waited. Parbleul
How my comrades eyes cleaned when
out of the depths of the forest there filed
two by two some 90 Prussians, headed
by an officer 1 can shut my eyes and
see that young man now as, pausing,
he gave the word to advance in tours.
He was magnifcently built young fell
low, with steely blue eyes and long, fair
mustache-a typical looking soldier.
God knows that during the last few
months enough French blood has been
spilled to make us all burn for venge-
ance. Nevertheless, as | raised my mus
ket to my shoulder my hand shook. 1
was not an old soldier in those days |
had never shot any one before at such
close quarters and this seemed to me
almost like murder, for he was SO igno-
rant of all danger. Yet knew it be-
hooved me to be steady, for they out
numbered US by some half dozen.
l gave the signal and we all fired in
unison, every bullet going straight
home In the stampede of horses which
ensued only four out of the 20 of the
enemy escaped death, and they, unnerv-
ed by their loss, turned tail and gallop-
ed back into the depths of the forest.
Their leader lay his full length on the
ground, staring up into the cold winter
sky with wide open, rapidly glazing
eyes, one hand still grasping the bride
of his charger. The poor beast stood
piteously looking down at his dead mas
ter. As l tried to seize him he reared,
and in doing so the corpse moved.
Could it be possible, asked myself,
that he was still alive?
Kneeling beside him, l tried to force
some brandy down his throat, but found
it was useless He was dead-stone
dead.
Some few days later, in one of our
many sorties, Ireceived slight scratch,
which was followed by bad attack of
fever. On recovering a weeks leave
was granted me in which to recruit.
Nv roui1oant xuac Of +ba+ fine -,,,or+r,,
ed in Paris a circumstance determin.
ed to take advantage of in looking up
an old conrade who, | had heard, had
been badly wounded at Bondy.
My inquiries led me to the Val de
Grace ambulance, where found Legras.
The poor fellow was delighted at seeing
a familiar face, and / staid and talked
to him for some time. In his rambling
account of how he had received his
wound my attention strayed to the &C.
cupants of the other beds. One in par
ticular fascinated me- 1t was the inert
figure of man lying in cot facing
Legras'
| asked Legras if he knew who the
poor fellow was. He answered in tone
of mingled pity and satisfaction:
"A Prussian officer He was brought
in some two days ago. The doctors mar
vel how he has fingered for so long, but
they say now he is dying. The sooner
the better say l. y
Hardly were the words out of Legras'
mouth when the sick man suddenly
raised himself, gave one choking sob
and fell backward. In that brief mo-
ment our eyes met What | saw there
made me shrink back in my chair with
a sense Of bewilderment-I may say ter
ror. That motionless figure was the
same young German officer whom a
week ago | had shot down with my own
hand on the road to Longboyeau.
Trembling like leaf, l bent over
him. He was dead
Before leaving | learned what partic-
ulars l could He was Prussian officer
who had been mortally wounded when
leading the attack on the neighboring
village of Bondy
This information restored my nerves
somewhat to their proper balance, or, to
say more truthfully l tried to think it
did. of course it could only have been
chance resemblance, and yet
But in those days one had little lei
sure in which to puzzle out mysteries.
Following this event came the battle of
Montretout
1t had rained almost necessarily the
night before, and the early morning
gave no promise of any cessation of the
heavy showers which had fallen for the
previous four and twenty hours The
fog and vapors of drifting rain were so
thick as morning broke that one could
scarcely see yard in front of one. At
length the fog lifted and pale, watery
looking sun shone out, disclosing to our
view the Germans strongly intrenched
position Our orders were to support our
leading column. The bugles had just
sounded the advance when, without any
warning, three German squadrons of
cavalry, led by an officer made a sud
den furious descent on our left flank
Under cover of the fog they had crept
up unnoticed close to our lines. Had not
the clouds lifted when they did we
should have been taken completely by
surprise
1t was an exciting moment as, quick
ly forming a square, we received them
with fixed bayonets. A breathless ten
minutes ensued as we fought desperate
ly for our lives.
l saw two of our officers fall mortal
ly wounded, but the enemy's leader
seemed to bear charmed life.
His repeated attacks made our men
waver Seeing them beginning to fall
back filled me with sudden frenzy Of
rage Calling on my comrades to follow,
| tried to fight my way to his side, an
effort which brought cruel smile to
his lips as he grimly awaited my attack.
But what was the meaning of that
sudden overwhelming feeling Of terror?
Why did my bayOnet fall from my
nerveless fingers? Those steely blue eyes
glaring into mine with such deadly hate
were the same that had seen closed in
death once ON the road to Longboyeau
and again in the Val de Grace ambu-
lance.
With a howl | staggered back, only
to recover myself as | saw that terrible
sword flash once again in the sunlight
What mysterious power made me raise
my pistol and fire it full in his face God
only knows but the act saved my life.