The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-01-11

'.Ayc," said Armand slowly. zone
for each stroke you gave the bondwom-
an ut GLADDEN. Hall"
The prisoner multiplied imprecations
as they prepared his punishment. but
took the blows I'm stony silence. Then
he walked TO the trench, tied kerr
chief about his arm and, shaking his
fist with q last livld curse at his cap
tor, fed toward the fortitications.
That evening General Moses Hazen
sat I'm his tent, :iic Headquarters near
est the firing line on the right rear of
the investing trenches, reading n close
ly written note. The handwriting,
though unfamiliar to him, was that
of Captain Jarrat. AS lie read and
reread 1t, lines OF perplexity came into
his strong Canadian face.
''How was this brought?" he asked
his orderly.
with dispatch flag from the east
ern redoubt, sir" was the answer.
He was still perusing 1t when the or
derly entered the tent to announce Colo
mel Armand. The general swore softly,
crumpled the letter In his hand, hcsitat-
ed, then nodded assent His eyes were
sharp gray, inset, and they fixed them
selves intently on the officer as he en-
tered.
II am informed, General Hazen,"
said Armand, saluting, that you have
In charge the makeup Of column
which will storm the enemy's tenth re-
doubt tonight"
Eyes"
"I wish to volunteer"
The generals keen eyes looked into
Armand's steady ones. Then he rum
pied his wig in thought.
II accept your services" he said at
length. Colonel Alexander Hamilton
will be in command. You will report
to him at the right of the first parallel
at dusk"
AS the other passed out the general
smoothed open the letter again. "And
yet" he said slowly to himself, "Bene-
dict Arnold was also brave man."
At dusk in the muck black trenches
lay 400 men, compact, wide eyed, wait
Ing the signal for storming. The earth
silence was profound, and through 1t
their breathing swelled like ghostly
tide. The hanging sky formed whit
tsh arch under which all movements
seemed at distance vague and form
less. spattering rain was dropping,
and ftful jags OF lightning knitted the
low clouds. From the rear an occa-
sional mortar was groaning, and from
time to time fiery rocket trail passed
with raucous shricking overhead-a
shot from the British batteries.
Nearest the open lay little group of
twenty. 1t was the forlorn hope, vol
untecrs all, who were to lead the col
umn. One OF these was Colonel Ar
mand.
At the signal the twenty rose as one
man and hurled forward on q run. A
hundred PAGES and n challenge rang
out; then the parapets opened In spurt-
Ing gusts Of death.
The handful stayed for no sappers,
but scaled the abatis, leaped the ditch
and rushed upon the works with their
spontoons. Above them, as they climb
ed, We're hammering oaths, stabbing
steel and leaning, thrusting forms.
The first point blank discharge had
gone to waste, and Armand, dragging
O grenadier hcadlong down by the
shoulders, leaped the wall and cleared
q space between two guns with his
saber, space filled n moment after by
the thrush Of the supporting battalion.
The fight became pandcmonium of
cries, grapples and yellow flashes. The
bleeding shadows swellcd instantly full
OF n vast, red smoke, of ycls, OF curses,
OF men trampled, struggling, gruntIng,
Enderfoot.
Armand, lunging, turned suddenly
upon snaky form creeping in the
shadow OF the gun. When seen, the
man pressed back into the human
surge, Armand trailing him panther
like. To the latter's saber he opposed
a sword and used 1t well, but gave way
steadily before the fury OF Armand's
attack, retreating across the space be.
tween the rear of the redoubt and the
river bank, scarce ten yards In width
An acre now melee OF hand to hand
encounters with sword, clubbcd mus
Eet and bayonet.
"Surrender!' cried Armand.
For answer the other avoided thrust
and twisted to one side, and Armand,
with the rush, feeling loose ground
Grumble under his feet, realized sud
denly that he was on the very marge
bf the high bank.
At the instant n new uproar arose.
Through and over the space plunged
vic SeDL 10 utluCk
4 the redoubt in reverse.
The impact sent soldier tumbling
] at Armand's feet as he sprang to re-
/ gain his footing, and, taking advan
4 fage OF the instant, his assailant hurl.
4 Rd himself upon him.
j As they toppled in the clinch Armand
. recognized his foe.
snow, curse your shrieked Jarrat.
j Then tne..' fell.
j The rush had carried the position, and
4 within two hours tlreless Continental
spades had inclosed 1t within the sec
n ond parallel, result which carried con-
! Sternation to Yorktown, where later In
4 the evening, In Corvallis hcadquar-
8 ters-now Governor Nelson's mansion,
since the American gunncrs had tum-
bled his first selection about his ears
q group of aids were assembled dis
II cussng the situation.
With them sat Colonel Lord Chet-
A wynde, lately arrived with messages
q from Sir Henry Clinton at New York.
The conversation was interrupted by
4 the entrance of Jarrat, followed by two
4 fE.Ne,sf sft.,,x INn n