Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-10-13

MED, and as the charge was pressed
home the Americans wayered. broke
and fell back in some disorder before
the vigorous onslaught of the veteran
troops. Mercer, filled with shame.
strove in vain TO rally his men. Dis
daining himself To retreat. and CALAMITY
calling upon them TO advance, he threw
himself upon the advancing British
line, sword in hand, followed by his
officers, and for a brief space there
was an exciting melee on the hill. A
blow from the butt end of a musket
felled the general to the ground. Tai.
bot sprang to his side and swept the
bayonet away from his heart by n blow
OF his sword delivered with a quick
movement of his powerful arm. Mer-
Ger protited by the moments respite to
leap to his feet.
Thank you, my lad!" he said.
"Do you get to the rear and rally the
men, general" cried Talbot, firing a
pistol at short range into the midst OF
the crowding enemy. 'Tl hold these
men in play" But the fighting blood
Of the old Scotchman was up, and for
answer he struck boldly at the man
opposite him.
Surrender, you cursed rebelsr' cried
an officer near them.
"Never!" replied Mercer. cutting
down the man with whom he was en-
gagged, while Talbot did the like To the
one next him. With a roar Of rage the
British sprang on the two men. In a
trice m of the ~bayonets got past
MERGERS guard and graZed his arm;
another buried itself In his bosom: a
third struck him in the breast. The
old man struck out weakly, dropped
his sword and fell, pierced by a dozen
wounds, but still breathing. Talbot.
cred with blood and dust, his hat gone
stepped across his body.
He might have retreated, being
young and active, but that was not
he custom Of his family; neither
would he abandon the body OF his
brave commander. Besides. every mo-
ment Of delay was precious. Surely
they would be REINFORCED and rallied.
He knew the promptness Of Washing
ton too we'll to doubt II for a moment.
and, last Of all, what was life without
Kate? One glance he cast to the bright
sky. flushed with the first rays Of the
rising sun, and hen he stood on guard.
The young mans ewes were burning
with the intoxication Of the fight and
his soul filled with great resolve. but
his sword play was as cool and as
rapid as II had been I'm the Sale des
Armes at Paris. where few could be
found to master him. The little group
of British paused a moment in admira-
ton of his courage.
zone at a time, gentlemen he cried,
smiling, and warding Off a vicious
bayonet thrust. lis there none here
who will cross swords with me for the
honor Of his fag?'
The young lieutenant in command OF
that part of the line promptly sprang
forward and engaged. The two blades
rang fiercely together and grated along
each other a moment later. The men
stepped back. But the brave lieutenant
had met his match and, with set lips
and iron arm, Talbot drove home his
blade in the others heart. Ere he
could recover himself OF withdraw his
sword he was beaten to his knees by
a blow from a gun barrel. The blood
ran down over his face.
Surrender! Surrender" they cried
to him, "and we will spare your llfe!'
For answer his hand sought his re-
naming pistol. The first one of his
opponents fell dead with a bullet
through his heart, and the next mo-
ment the deadly steel of a bayOnet was
buried in Talbot's throat.
"Kate-Kater' he cried In agony, the
blood bubbling from his lips. and then
another bayonet found his gallant
heart. and he sank down on his face
at the foot of the dying officer, his
lips kissing the soil of that country in
defense of whose liberties he had
fallen.
AS was customary with his family,
he had died on the field. grimly facing
fearful odds to the last. The last of
his line. he had made "A good ending.
not unworthy his distinguished ances-
try; for none of the proud and gallant
race had ever died in the service OF a
better cause. be il that Of king or par.
lament, than this young soldier who
had just laid down his life for love Of
his country!
The slight check afforded by the in
terpositlon of the Americans was over.
The British We're sweeping everything
before them, when Colonel MANHOOD.
the cool headed officer, who had been
sitting on a little brown pony, with a
small switch In his hand, directing the
combat, became aware Of a large body
Of men coming up on his right flank
through the wood. With the readiness
OF a practiced soldier, he Instantly
stopped the advance of his men, wheel
ed them about, brought up his guns
and prepared to open fire. The Amer
lean officers had time to mark with
admiration the skill with which the
maneuver was effected and the beau
tiful precision with which the men car
ried out their orders. Then the force,
a large body of Pennsylvania militia