The leader., 1899-03-08

4 NieH. Hc NtUi tHtTt on BOSSue EOTscs
His new grenadicrs grumbled among
themselves. lis it with that plug"
they said. that he means TO lead us -
La Puysaye's friends looked at the
beast critically. IN ensign lifted its
lip. mo use" said the count. hes an
old horse. and his teeth no longer mark
his age"
But why didn't you come on your
black fellow
"Ob. Constantine broke his leg and
but do not laugh. messieurs; poor and
Old as is this charger. he is good
enough for the campaign. ] judged
| that we should he only amusing our
selves here, and did not wish 10 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 GO
ing toward the trenches. bring him
| back to me tonight" said the count,
and the man departed with the horse.
| But not mere than an hour had
passed. ard La Puysaye was just ltav
ing the marshal's quarters when an at
| tack was ordered on strong point
| where 500 men had been killed the
night before. The trumpets sounded
and the army FASTENED to respond. MI
other tasks were abandoned. and, with
| the others, their uniforms in Urdt +,
their arms in readiness, the grenaGiers
fell into line.
Being ordered TO hold his regiment in
reserve. NJ. de la Puysaye conducted it
behind certain embankment. then
sought to 90 after his horse. But his
friends stopped him. Not row." they
said; the place is exposed; YOU would
be risking your life needlessly.>
La Puysaye returned to his place and
gave vent to his veXation. Miserable
orderly" he cried; my horse! See
what he has done with my horse"
"Ciel!" exclaimed the captain. in as
constituent. why are YOU 80 concerned
about the beast? From whom did you
get him."
La Puysaye. tired of keeping his
secret. revealed it. From De Bossue
He was. alas. one of my old friends
The news was murmured through the
ranks. while the officers marVeled audi
bly,. what an idea" they said Where
is he. that we may observe him again?
in that trench over there, which Is
so exposed. My orderly must have been
drunk, to leave him in such place"
oh" cried an officer. have 10 fear,
Bossup's horse. The horse of a coward
He'll crouch when the bullets fly; you'll
find him again safe and sound
After all" said another, the trench
covers him; he's satisfied to stay in it;
he won't come out"
At that moment bomb came singing
Through the air. and from the trench
calmly, proudly, defiantiy, a horse
emerged. He stood alone in the middle
of the field, in great open place
alone. The saddle was on his back, the
bit in his mouth; aud, though he haG
lowered his neck in the silence follow
ing the first bomb. he seemed waiting
only for a signal on his bride.
THE towards horse thought the
army.
just then the place seemed to fill with
smoke. while the city beyond tremhled
as with an earthquake shock; three
more bombs in the ranks Of France. and
Is files were cut down like so much
grain.
The trumpets sounded the attack;
| and at that moment. suddenly. mag
nifeently. the last rays of the setting
sun clothed the horse in gold. He
raised his head, as the brave steed does
when the battle is On and the rider TN
! courages him to advance; then, boldly,
| eagerly. ioyously. he charged on the
city at a gallop. Deaf to the thunder
| of the cannon. Indifferent to the shot
that whistled about him. glad 10 sniff
again the smoke of powder, to feel once
more the excitement of the combat,
| the gallant horse dashed on and ora
sublime spectacle for whole army to
witness.
What moved him to rush on the en-
envy so madly. TO affrOnt death 50
granGly? Was it the memory of BoS-
sues glorious battles? Was it the force
of habit acquired after score Ct en-
| capements-the result OF lesson
| learned on many fields
They who followed swiftly after him
| did not know; but they swore after
ward thar they had seen hand on his
bride. feet pressing his sides, a shad-
owy form on his back, and for one brief
instant a face, with long scar on its
| left cheek and look such aS 10 coward
! ever wore.
The poor beast at length fell. bleed
ing from a score of wounds but he had
done enough; in the eyes of the army,
! he whose horse this had been
was vindicated. Bossue WAS not Il cow
! ard.-Translated from the French for
L