Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-25

watched lanterns sickly rays lighting up
the knapsacks and muddy trousers of line
of men in front: he spoke to the mounted
captain riding in silence, his heavy head
buried in his wet cloak collar, but the Off
Ger did not seem to hear him.
The snow turned to finest grains of ice.
the frozen dust battered and ratified on wet
caps, on soaked Oyercoats and stiffened
epaulettes. Again sudden shaft of cold
passed through the air, bringing with it a
mist that hung to the fringe of the march
ing column, and grew family luminous as
the snow ceased to fall The fog became
debser, a sour odor of sweat and wet,
smoke-saturated clothing filled the air. The
soaking saddles, the drenching TANKS of the
horses, the rifle barrels, gave out a stuffy
penetrating smell that cho,xed and stifed.
There was scarcely a breath Of air stirring;
steam rose from the mems breath; the
horses tanks were smoking.
Hardwood rode on in silence, listening to
the creak of saddles, the slop! slop! of steel
shod hOofs. the crushing crackle of thous-
ands of tired feet.
Once the infantry captain, riding beside
him I'm the dark, spoke: Monsieur, If you
are going through the lines, have wife
and child at Bonneuil-" Give me the let
ter" said Hardwood soberly. The captain
fumbled in the breast of his soaked tunic,
drew out a wet letter and passed it to Hare
wock.
Thank you. comrade.'' he said. AS he
spoke a star broke out overhead.
Half an hour later the velvet depths of
midnight were spangled with stars-great
BLUSH wintry stars sparkling like frost
crystals IN the moonlight. The long black
column detached itself from the shadowy
plain. massed squads of horsemen broke
the level Of the infantry, and on a little hill
in font the strange silhouettes of cannon
passing moved in shadow shapes across
the sky. 1t was o'clock in the morning.
Hardwood opened his watch and read the
dial by the splendid starlight. I'VE are
near lie Bourget?" he asked the infantry
captain
I'VE are there" said the captain, omin-
ousy.
Hardwood standing straight I'D in his
stirrups, saw a little river just ahead, SPAN
ned by column Of wading infantry.
Horses. teo, were fording the shallow
stream a few rods below, and above the
cannoniers of the two field pieces moved
'cautiously along the pebbIed shore search
ing for safe crossing. On the opposite
bank of the stream, In irregular outline,
shadowy houses clustered, single dim
spire rose in their midst; not a ray of light
came from the dark village, not a sound
Riding ahead. Hardwood felt the pebbled
shore beneath his horses feet: beside him
the black water gurgled and swirled to
their knees. Suddenly all along the oppo-
site bank of the stream a line of tiny lights
danced and sparkled like firefiies. :. There
came ripping, tearing crash, the keen
whimpering whisper of bullets-showers of
bullets. that hurtled and smacked on stone
and rock and tore through the bushes on
either side. Out in the water a horse rear
ed. sank on his launches. then began to
splash furiously. soldier In midstream
started to run IN a circle. shrieking: another
dropped forward and came floating past,
head under water, the little tin cup shining
In the starlight.
A shrili cheer broke out from the. in
fantry. The shallow waters Of the ford
boiled under their rush. Mounted officers
thrashed through the water shouting For