The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-18

liant deeds done by his old comrades
| was to make his hearers feel proud
| that they were soldiers, to sweeten
| their hearts and drive self from their
souls. He was speaking of his old
comrade Major Foster when Sir David
| Noakes entered the mess-room. The
! baronet had Just returned from his
country seat, and after carelessly sal
uting his commanding officer and his
comrades, he flung himself into his
seat. and helped himself plentifully to
wine. John Drury was on guard duty,
and Sir David looking round, saw the
colonel in the young mans place with
some surprise.
There was a minutes pause and the
colonel went on with his interrupted
story.
"It was a miserable daybreak, cold
and wet, and a mist hung over the
ground so that we could not see ten
yards ahead, and 1t was chilly enough
to freeze the valor out of our bodies.
| All night we had heard the challenge
of the French sentries only half mile
| away, and we knew that we might eX-
pect an attack in the morning. My
company and Fosters were detailed to
hold a bridge across the canal and we
had instructions to blow it up if we
could not hold it. We had the powder
bags slowed all ready, and there was
q dreary wait At last came the
muflled tramp of many feet and we
stood at the bridge ready straining our
eyes to see through the fog.
Foster who was in command, gave
the word to fire. and in sections we
sent in volleys which drew their fire:
and we saw by the flashes that the
enemy was within fifty yards of us,
and on they came, firing when they had
the chance. They tried to charge over
the bridge, but of course failed, and
after three reDulses they spread out
along the opposite bank and fired at US.
We had only hundred and sixty men,
and they had probably ten times as
many and soon our numbers We're ter
ribly reduced Again they charged,
their men on the banks trying to clear
the way for them; and again they met
with repulse, during which received
a wound that spoiled my sword arm
for a while. BY the time we had sent
them back across the bridge We hadn't
sixty men left and so Foster agreed
with me that we must blow 1t up.
Whether or not the French had OWNED
our purpose / cannot say, but certainly
they concentrated such a fire on one
end of the bridge that it was almost
impossible for US to reach the powder
bags.
"A sergeant, and then five men, one
after another, tried to fire the charge
ana were shot down, riddled by bullets.
Then Foster insisted on marching up
to the bridge with me close behind him.
so that when he fell should be nearer
the powder bags and unharmed. All,
he was a gallant fellow, was Foster.
marvellous gallant fellow He placed
himself before me- and on We marched.
for there was no dlsobeying him; and
we hadn't gone five yards when he
was hit.
Hold up and doublev he cried. and
' then he staggered as he was hit again /.
but he wouldn't let me stop him, and
!, he only dropped when we had reached
the bridge which was about twenty y
yards from the bank behind which ou.
men lay. l set the match alight and
picked Foster IN to carry him back:
but having only one arm I could use
= could not get far away before the
DrluSe blew up and sent us f1ying!"
"A gallant fellow, that Foster!' said
the commanding officer, with kindling
eyes
-Nh' it was II gallant fellow Str!''
. said Colonel Drury, rising. Gentle
men, drink to the health Of nv old
. comrade Major Foster, and confusion
l to the william who has embittered his
t last days."
The coloneIs clear voice rang
through the mess room, and there was
stir and amaZement among those
who sat around the table, for it was
well known that Captain Noakes was
the man who had shot young Foster.
Amid dead silence the baronet arose
and, pallid with excitement and anger
l he turned toward the noble figures of
the old colonel who was still stand
S ing.
u Your age shelters you from the con-
L sequences of this insult, Colonel Dru.
t ry," he said hoarsely, "but il your sor
D has particle Of honor in him. he
shall -"
+ The colonel interrupted him.
II My age shall not debar me from the
$ pleasure of offering you satisfaction
sir" he said. MY hand is still as
: steady as your own. If you refuse tc
meet me, you prove yourself coward
It despicabe poltroon who dares moi
L face DEATH"
There was a hush and then a move
< HItlll 10 make the COlOnel SIT down
8 and an endeavor to prevent the affair
: going any further. The colonel was So
n popular, so reverenced; he was ole
8 and unduly excited; the whole Incl
8 dent was painful to every one present
g Sir David Noakes left the mess room
in silence.
n Gentlemen" said the colonel, calmly
q and courteOusly, IT tender you a heart
$ felt apology for acting as l have done
= but there are times when, If a maj
be a man, he must speak. Colone
a Beauchamy and gentlemen crav.
e your forgiveness And now, gentle
W men, may I ask who will act for me?'
Your SOM" suggested some one.
II beg you you to say nothing to hin
o of this: I would have this little mat
d ter settled quietly and at once!" re
II piled the colonel.
n Then one Captain Davies and an
y other man came forward. and th
three left the mess room together say
ing that they would be found in tn
" captains rooms should they be in
Qured for And the colonel told hi
Is seconds a tale that made them lool
l. at each other and remember the he
3 roes who marched through a storm
r. of bullets to what seemed certain
le death to blow up the bridge.
= Then, while Sir David's second
n called on Captain Davies, the colone
d withdrew and sought his son, TO whom
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