The Natchitoches enterprise., 1899-06-08

informing him that his request for
regiment had been granted; that
was to be known as the Grenadiers Puy
saye, and that he must join ii near Fri
bourg as coon as possible. Taking hard
ly time for the writing Of a letter ant
the saying of an adieu, he departed fo
that place, and gratifying his own wisl
he went there on Bossue's horse
His new grenadiers grumbled among
themselves. SIS it with that plug. >
they said. ''that he means to lead us 2
La Puysaye's friends looked at thu
beast critically. An ensign lifted it,
lip. mo use. said the count; shes
an old horse, and his teeth no longer
mark his age. :"
but why didn't you come on your
black fellow?'
sob, Constantine broke his leg, and
but do rot laugh, messieurs-poor
and old as is this charger he is good
enough for the campaign. judged that
we should be only amusing ourselves
here. and ! did not wish to honor the
enemy by riding too fine horse"
The officers saluted smilingly. and
the colonel, wishing to see the marshal,
NJ. de Coigny. inquired the way to his
quarters. Before going thither he left
his horse with his orderly. who was 60
ing toward the trenches Bring him
back to me tonight, said the count.
and the man departed with the horse.
But not more than an hour had pass
ed, and La Puysaye was just leaving
the marshal's quarters, when an attack
was ordered on strong point where
1900 men had been killed the night
before. The trumpets sounded and the
army fastened to respond. All other
tasks were abandoned and, with the
others. their uniforms in order, their
arms in readiness. the grenadiers fell
into line
Being ordered to hold his regiment
in reserve, NJ. de la Puysaye conducted
it behind certain embankment, then
sought to go after his horse But his
friends stopped him. "Not now, !" they
said. 1.-The place is exposed. You would
be risking your life needlessly."
La Pnysaye returned to his place and
gave vent to his vocation. Miserable
ordeTlyi" he cried my horsel See
what he has done with my horsel'
''CielI" exclaimed a captain in as
constituent. "Why are you SO concerned
about the beast9 From whom did you
get himf"
La Puysaye. tired of keeping his Sc
cret. revealed it. "From De Boesue He
was, alas. enc of my old friends"
The news was murmured through the |
ranks. while the officers marveIed audi |
bly,. what an idear' they said.
"Where is he. that we may observe
him again7"
elm that trench over there. which is
so exposed. My orderly must have been
drunk to leave him in such place"
"Oh, cried an officer, 81 have no
fearl Bossue's horsei The horse of
cowardi He'll crouch when the bullets
fly. You'll find him again safe and
sound"
"After all, /" said the other, "the
trench covers him. He's satisfied to
stay in it. He won't come out.
At that moment bomb came sing
ing through the air, and from the
trench calmly. proudly, defiantly, a
horse emerged He stood alone In the
middle Of the field, in a great open
The saddle was on his
back. the bit in his mouth, and, though
he had lowered his neck in the silence
following the first bomb, he seemed
waiting only for a signal on his bride.
1.-THE towards horseI" thought the
army.
just then the place seemed to fill
with smoke, while the city beyond
trembled as with an earthquake shock
three more bombs in the ranks Of
France. and 10 files were cut down like
10 much grain.
The trumpets sounded the attack,
sud at that moment sxGidenly, magnifi-
Gently. the las. Jays Of the setting sun
clothed tie horse in gold. He raised his
read. an the brave steed does when the
battle is Cu and the rider encourages
iim to adnlnce; then boldly. eagerly.
oyously, he charged on the city at
yallo2G Deaf to the thunder Of the can.
ION, Indifferent to the shot that whis-
led about him, glad to sniff again the
moke Of powder. to feel once more the
excitement Of the combat. the gallant
horse dashed on and on-a sublime
pectacle for whole army to witness
What moved him to rush on the ene-
ny so madly, to afEront death so grand
u Was it the memory Of Bossue's
glorious battlesi Was it the force of a
labit acquired after score of engage
nents-the result Of lesson learned
IN many fieldsf
They who followed swiftly after him
lid not know. but they swore after !
yard that they had seen hand on his
'ridle. feet pressing his sides. shad-
wy form on his back. and for one brief
Instant a face, with long scar on it's
EFT cheek and look such as no coward
yer wore.
The poor beast at length fell, bleed .
ng from score Of wounds, but he had .
lone enough. In the eyes of the army
% whose horse this had been was vim
heated. Bossue was not a coward. - !
rom the French For Argonaut.
0natS -F,gK-Sf%