The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-11

Columbias. had swept the field Ike "A cy
clone. whir.ing the yelling rebels into the
stream. ;umbling over guns. gunners ana
crouching foes untl In a mad chorus on
exultant cheers they lined up at the bank
over which in terror scores of their tor
mentors OF the early hours had plunged
In hopes Of reaching the opposite shore.
Along the parapets. among the bamboo
thickets. under the walls Of the old gray
convent ard everywhere across the open
field the dead and wounded lay In little
pools Of brownish red. brave lads In blue
and tumbled heaps OF stricken foemen.
their loose light uniforms all stained an5
soaked with gore.
Not until after Ave long hours 81 pa
tient endurance had the brigade received
the longed for prayed for word TO ad-
vance. and the pent up rage for battle
burst like torrent on an astonished
foot swept hclplesslv before it Foremost
In the magnificent charge Of his cheering
men Langdnn, sword In hand. had leap
ed among the guns at the river redoubt.
his cheek scanned by the stingng lash
Of bullet, his hat brm torn by the
desperate lunge of a bolo, the last thrust
OF a cursing Tagal officer. nghtlng like
rat In corner. for the bayonet of
lusty sergeant had transhxed him on the
spot. Close under the outerworks little
sad eyed squad had gathered about the
stricken form of the gallant old major.
dying. sword In hand and with almost
a smile son his Hips as Langdon knelt and
raised the sriEzled head and stanched
the blood that weied from mortal
wound Victory brilliant. complete. de-
cisfve. had rewarded their determined as
sault. the warm handclasp. the enthu-
siastic praise OF the brigade commander
his "GlorIousiy dore, T.angdoa'" bringing
cheer after cheer from the exnltant bat
faff0pe the heart az ha
sore. IL was hard to lose such lives as
these that were ebbing away there in all
the radiance OF the morning sunshine. IL
was sad 10 part with the trusted and
loyal subordinate IL was bitter 10 think
that that other and older friend who had
never swerved In sornDw and adversely
now lay deaf 10 the tidings OF this most
sold erly achievement that Melville
might never know how thorough had been
Langdons vindication OF the faith ana
trust reposed I'm him Silently. sadly. the
Washoes bore the dying major back to
the walls OF the old convent within the
lines. Rcverentiy they began the gather
ing up OF the dead. and tendery. these
stout hearted fellows. they strove 10 MN
lister 10 the wounded friend and zoe
elike while cowed. scowllng, suilen the
iuckless prisoners were swept up from the
curying shores. from under the roors
of native huts. from the bitches AMI
drains eioNR tne village walls Away
out to tho right. front. up the river road
toward Guadeloupe. the pursuing Column
bias we're stiil voiieyng at. Ricar;is rear
guard. what there was fft % H. but
Santa Ana. with al It's stores OF ammuni-
ton and supplies. was the prize ~ the
brigade. and the veteran general OF d.
vIflo7. riiirg ont 10 survey the scere
and congratulate the victors. stopped %
shake hands " IA Largiol ard asl his
~or1 OF praise and compliment and 10 m
uu.re az 10 his wound. "Oniy n pin
scratch. general tlat wouldn'i hur; ~ al
N could know there wa no truth in
the story that General Melville n klllcd" :"
"Oh won't believe ~ said the
chief. 'Your only authority and m,nc a.
Colonel Nathan. ard Nathan's orly au-
ihority Il that hatch n cc-reepoadents
hos been housing for the past week
They hnd II that you were morfaiiv HIT
end half your regiment killed Where II
Colonel Nathan. anyhow"
Il don't know sir" answered Lang
eon guardedly n haven't seen him since
faybrcak"
The major general turned In saddle and
focked hack across the h.ocdg fiei1 to-
gard the roofs Of Psco giinting between