Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-12-08
CHAPTER III.
THE RED CORNFIELD.

begs for help urgently"
Tell him | have none to give" de
Rome made answer from his big black
charger Couronne. ''Sangdieu!" he
added, under his breath, had we been
but three hours earlier the Bearnais
was lost"
The words were hardly out of his
mouth when the cavalier to whom they
were addressed threw up his arms with
a scream, and falling forward from his
horse, began to beat at the earth convul-
sively with his hands, whilst he gasped
out his life. AS the death glaze was
covering his eyes, his empty saddle was
filled by a figure that rose up like a
sprite through the dim smoke, and Be
Inns even voice was heard.
Poor Garabay! But my horse was
shot under me an hour ago, and this
one viii do me eXcellently. Shall l
carry your message, general?"
II claim the honor, marquis; do not
deny me, Belin. | have been idle too
long," and | pressed forward as spoke.
80, I yield to you, d'Auriac! there is
work enough for me at the other end;
the bear of Aumale is dancing to fine
tune there" and Belin reined back,
whilst de Rome nodded assent, with a
meaning in his look that l alone under
stood.
Ineeded no second bidding, but turn
ing my Norman's rein, galloped down
the blazing line of battle. If l escaped
through the day, which to my mind
L L. 7 ELL oil hot
de Rome, smarting under disappoint-
ment and chagrin at defeat, would be
in no temper for mercy, and would GER
tainly keep his word to me.
l let my beast go with a loose head,
and there was no need of the spur to
urge him to his utmost effort as he bore
me to de Leyva. l found him bare
headed and on foot, bis face black with
smoke and bleeding from wounds.
ought to have gone back to de Rome,
but the lust of battle was on me, and
for me there was nothing in the world
hut the black guns behind the contin-
uous flashes, tightening through the
thick smoke which the wind was blow
ing in our faces. My brave horse was
killed by a round shot, and as l scram-
bled up and took my place by de Ley
vas side, his features relaxed and he
said, with thin smile:
'I have had both my horses killed,
chevalier, or would offer you mount"
1--WE 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 possible
from the guns, de Leyva advanced in
open files. There was to be no firing.
The work was to be all cold steel, and
Dayonne knife and Biscay pike were
to make a last effort against the long,
black, snarling guns, behind which
d 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
hinching, never swerving, one man
stepping where another fell, the veteran
regiments marched, with their gallant
chief az their head. When about so
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 tremendous roar of artillery,
| and the hale of us that were left were in
| the battery. Here, on the red and slip
perry corn stalks, the devilry went on
and men fought more like beasts than
| buman beings. AS the heavy mass
swayud 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
another sight, and that was de Rone's
broken center doubling back upon us
in utter rout, and behind them silver
line of shining helmets as the kings
house charged, led by Henry himself.
On they came, a dancing line of light
CLEAN of shining swords, with the
white plume of the bravest of them full
three lengths in front.
give lie Roll" The breeze flung u!
the deep-mouthed cheer as they broke
through the mailed ranks of de Rome!
own cuirassiers, and drove horse anC
foot, knight and knave, in huddleC
mob before them.
1t may have been fancy, but | though
I saw In the press a dark figure tha
suddenly turned the reins of a huge