Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-29

eral between two fires. For although
de Rethelois was penned into La Fere.
yet his artillery had long reach and
CALLED us in the rear, whilst the King,
fully grasping the situation, opened a
heavy fire on our front, and that terri
BILE battery from the corn field never
ceased launching forth its messages of
death. These guns, no longer hidden
by the tall corn stalks, now beaten
and trampled, down and as red as the
peoples that once starred them, were
in reality deciding the fortune of the
day. Twice had de Leyva in person
brought the veteran regiments of AL
magro and Algarve up to their very
muzzles, until the men could have
touched them with their Biscay pixies,
and twice had they been flung back,
but made good their retreat, beating off
the charge of Schombergs reiters. in
so savage manner that the free COM
mander was unable to rally his men
for the rest of the day
l let my beast go with loose head,
and there was no need of the spur TO
urge him to his utmost effort as he
bore me to de Leyva. | found him
bare-headed and on foot, his face black
with smoke and bleeding from wounds.
HIS toison dor had been shot away,
though it's jewelled collar still clasped
his neck. and his left arm hung use
less by his side. He stared at me when
| gave him de Rone's answer, to which
l added the news that Garabay was
dead Then he laughed through his
cracked lips-a laugh that seemed to
stick in the knot Of his throat, and
making me no further reply, waved his
sword in the air with a cry on his
men for yet another effort, and for
lorn hope at the guns. And they who
had never known defeat before an
swered to his call and came up again
a line of men for whom the bitterness
of death was passed. ! ought to have
gone back 10 de Rome, but the lust Of
battle was on me, and for me there
was nothing in the world but the black
guns behind the continuous flashes,
tightening through the thick smoke
which the wind was blowing in our
faces. My brave horse was killed by
round shot, and as l scrambled up
and took my place by de Leyva's side,
his features relaxed and he said with
a thin smile:
Il have had both my horses killed,
Chevalier or would offer you mount"
I'VE will replace them from Schom-
berg's reiters,' and the bugles, sound
ing the attack, cut short all further
talk. 1t was win or lose now-all was
staked upon this hazard, and it was
well for us that Schomberg was broken,
for to protect the men as far as pos
sible from the guns, de Leyva advanced
in open files. There was TO be no fir
ing. The work was to be all cold
steel. and Bayonne knife and Bscay
pike were to make last effort against
the long. black, snarling guns, behind
which d'Aussonville's ordnance men
yelped and danced with glee as each
discharge brought down its tale of
the mangled and dead But up the long
slope. never flinching. never swerving,
one man stepping where another fell,
the veteran regiment marched, with
their gallant chief at their head. When
about fifty PAGES away, the drift was
so thick that we could see nothing
save the incessant flashes of light,
which possessed but power enough to
show themselves. At this moment the
bugles rang out shrilly, the ranks closed
up like magic, there was one tremend-
GUS roar of artillery, and the half of
us that were left were in the battery.
Here. on the red and slippery corn
stalks. the devilry went on, and men
fought more like beasts than human
beings. AS the heaving mass swayed
backwards and forwards, the strong
breeze lifted the smoke from the now
speechless guns and showed that they
were won, but it also showed us an
other sight, and that was de Rone's
broken centre doubling back upon us
in utter rout, and behind them silver
line of shining helmets as the Kings
House charged, led by Henry himself.
ITO be continued tomorrow