Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-02-08

eminent purchase. They are abso-
lutely ne VITO the drill and are FESTIVE
and frightened. The two enlisted men
whose duty it is to ride one leader
and one wheel horse and to act as
drivers during the evolutiOns have
slipped to the ground for a moment
to adjust a twisted trace.
At this instant there comes from
below the hill. where the senior ca
diets are at work with the great guns,
the heavy, reverberating boom of the
giant twenty-ton smoothbore. The
four mettlesome horses attached TO
Cadet Masters's field piece and timber
jump forward without the warning of
fraction of a second, hurting the
two enlisted men to the ground and
dashing forward in wild flight over
the artillery plain, dragging as though
it were but a feather the ammunition
chest and the three-inch rifle. The
two cadets who are Masters's fellow
cannoneers, with the ease born OF
training, jump from the timber chest
clear of the laundering wheels of the
trailing cannon and alight uninjured
on the ground
Cadet Masters is about TO follow
them. His right hand is on the flank
of the nigh pole horse and he makes
ready to leap forward beyond and to
the left of the crunching caisson
wheel Then for a moment he looks
ahead. In the direct course OF the
flying horses are the hundreds of
gathered spectators, for the great part
women and children. They are sit
ting as if paralyzed by the sight of
the runaway. Masterss thoughts act
quickly. There is no time here to
spare. He stands upright on the pole
between the rearmost two of the mad
dened horses. He makes his wav
slowly forward, his hand now upon
the back of one, now upon the back
of the other One slip means instant
death beneath the hoofs or the grind
ing of the gun wheels. Masters's
body sways as the animals dash over
the rough ground of the drill plain.
he looks ahead once more. Many of
the crowd have sought safety in flight
but scores of women and children are
still in the direct line of danger.
Reaching the end of the swaving mole
Masters stands for one instant erect.
Then, just how no one ever knew. he
made a flying leap and landed SQUARE
ly astride one of the frenzied leaders
They are within thirty yards of the
group of frightened onlookers. Mas
tiers leans forward, we'll over the neck
OF his mount, grasps the bride at the
rlght side near the bit, and by
mighty effort brings the leaders head
TO the right. AS if in obedience TO
the enforced movement, the other
leader complies, and there is a slight
change in direction. Once more the
cadet brings his whole force to hear
upon the bride and still further do
the runaways change their course
lhey are almost upon the terrified
group OF people. The leaders arc
turned still more. and the children
under the shade of the elms are
saved. "ie
With speed unchecked the horses
uash on. Almost in their path stands
great tent post. Masters makes an
eHort TO bring them clear, but only
nan succeeding, the wheels crash into
the obstruction and the boy is thrown
headiong to the plain, stunned and
bleeding. anu
When thought in some degroo
comes back and objects shane tbano
serves once more to his eyes he be-
comes conscious that cadet is bend
ing over him and saying: Masters
was the hrst one to call you a coward
you nave got more grit than the
whole corps of cadets put together"
A cheer that came as an echo To tho
words told John Masters, coward
lhat ne mad won his case with his
oiiiraues'-l Chicago Record