Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-08-09
along the line, tercest on the hill to
our left. where most of the cannon were


and our kingl To the glory of the
houses we serve and to ourselvesl" he
shouted. and, tipping the cup, drained
1t.
Nothing about ITO the glory of God
and the saints, - which is but poor
excuse for blowing out mems brains
and cutting off their heads; but we
lifted our swords and swore to fight like
loyal men, and the troopers cheered.
No sooner were we in our saddles
than the guns of the enemy began to
pop and our cannon and culverins to
answer. A richly accoutered cavalier
rode up and saluted US. We saluted in
return with drawn swofds
1.-THE generals compliments, and he
begs you to fall in behind De Audrey's
lancers on the left Of the princes
dragons.
Here was homer, for these were the
picked horsemen of the kingdom. We
saluted again, and he rode on.
"Though we are free companies, I'M
der none but God and the king" cried
l, standing in my stirrups, "let us
make Viscount Won Brum our colonel
till the fight be over. that we may
wheel and charge with one mind.
The others agreed, and Won Brum
thanked us and rode to the head Of the
squad
We found De Audrey's lancers and
took up our position without delay.
There were 80 many broad backs and
big spears in front that could see no
more Of the enemy than If had been
home at LISTENS. but hearing them was
another matter.
Our 40 fellows were armed with
swords and pistols and few with car
bines had the baron's horse pistols in
my holsters and my rapier in place Of
saber. Red Harding wore his broad
sword and carried blunderbuss across
his saddle. He told me it was loaded
with 30 leaden slugs and grinned pleas
antly.
'lt will kick very hard" said !.
eyes. unless it has changed nightly
in its habits; but / am used to it and
will brace my horse before I let Ay,"
he answered. Our new commander
looked over his shoulder at the piece in
some concern.
"You will please refrain from letting
it fly into my back. lieutenant, said
he.
Red Harding chuckled and answered
him that it was safe not to go off be-
fore the fourth drop of the hammer.
am unable to do Justice to battle,
so will let this one pass with only a
little ink splitting
We charged over the hill, keeping
together as well as we could. The Ian
GERS drove at the horsemen in front Of
them. and it was long time before
we could get into the fight. When we
did. Red Harding fred his old gun and
blew himself almost over his horse's
tail. He scrambled forward into his
saddle again. however. and charged
with the rest of us There was great
deal of smoke and more noise. A pike
man reached my thigh, but l beat him
down and leaped Hagurt over the body
and so gained the inside of the square
of footmen. We had warm and merry
time in there. can tell you. A big
captain on white horse was jammed
against me. He swore in pure German
and shortened his sword to run me
through But he did not make allow.
ance for my breastplate, SO smote him
from the saddle with an empty pistol
| Before evening the Bohemians were
broken utterly and running frantically
for the woods Not many Of them got
away, for our light horse followed and
cut them down as they fed. cheering as
If it were as much sport as the English
fox hunting. When Red Harding and
counted our men, we found eight left
of the IL who rode out of LISTENS, and
all those, like ourselves. suffering some
wounds. 1t had ever been thus with
our peasant soldiers-let the gentlemen
lead on and the hotter the place of bat.
tie the happier for them. They wiped
the sweat from their faces and shouted,
1.-The king. the king. and the long
sword Of Isstensl"
| We built our fires on the battlefield
and lay down to rest. Before we could
yawn twice along came cavalier SPLEEN
didly attired and said that the broken
army would play the devil with the
villages farther on il we did not inter
fsre.
II will see to 1t, l said. We de-
voured our frugal meal like wolves and
then got about saddling our tired
horses Hagart was without scratch.
bxt some Of the men had to catch frest
mounts. As we went slowly across thu
trampled fields toward the highroad Rec
Harding grumbled away under his mus
tache like sulky hound.
"By all the beer mugs Of Germany
what ails your" asked.
/ ~ have lost my gun, and how in tn
name of heaven are we going to guari
these sheep of villagers without itf" b.
muttered.
This after the heat Of the fight set u
all laughing till the tears trickled dow
and washed white streaks in the bloc,
and dust.
Going slowly along the trodden roa,
under the mist my thoughts went bacl
to the English Marion in the house O
my fathers.
l shut my eyes, and there she wa
before me, lovely as I had seen her o.
the first day. all clad in silks an
dounces. ] wondered what her hear
said when she found the verses wit
my postscript in her silver cup. HOY
beautiful she looked when Harry wa
reading those same versesl And Harry
s.