Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-04-25

lowly born, well tested soldier like Red
Harding. While we devoured our Spar
tan fare and told of past adventures we
watched company after company of
horse, foot and artillery creep along
the road and take up position to right
and left. We'were down little from
the main body of the army, with a
thicket of birches in front Of Us, but
presently came noise Of disturbance
and rumor that our scouts and out
pickets we're riding in, many Of them
wounded. Then the bugles began all
along the line, fercest on the hill to
our left. where most of the cannon were
planted.
Red Harding filled fagon with wine
to the brim and got to his feet.
"My lords, as the oldest officer in our
circle, with most scars on my body, I
pledge the war cup. To our country
and our kingl To the glory of the
houses we serve and to ourselves" 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 swords
"The generals compliments, and he
begs you to fall in behind De Audrey 3
lancers on the left Of the princes
dragons. "
Here was honor, for these were the
picked horsemen of the kingdom. We
saluted again, and he rode on.
Though we are free companies, un-
der none but God and the king" cried
I, 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 so 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.
lit will kick very hard" said I.
eyes, unless it has changed nightly
in its habits; but / am used to it and
will brace my horse before let fly, !"
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 60 off be-
fore the fourth drop Of the hammer.
l am unable to do justice to a battle,
30 I will let this one pass with only a
little ink spilling.
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 a long time before
we could get into the fight. When we
did. Red Harding fred his old gun and
blew himself almost over his horses
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 beat him
down and leaped Hagart over the boz
and so gained the inside of the square
of footmen. We had warm and merry
time in there. l can tell you. A big
captain on a white horse was jammed
against me. He eswore in pure German
and shortened his sword to run .e
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 fled, 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. It 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.
"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 splen-
didly attired and said that the broken
army would play the devil with the
villages farther on if we did not inter
fere.
II will see to it," said. We de-
voured our frugal meal like wolves and
then got about saddling our tired
horses. Hagart was without scratch.
but some Of the men had to catch fresh
mounts. As we went slowly across the
trampled fields toward the highroad Red