Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-03-17

little beyond that bristling bed. 1
staggered backward, falling upon it
To my surprise, it bent beneath me.
They were no bayonets, but only shells
of painted paper. | got to my feet
none the worse for jumping, and as
dumfOunded as ever man could be.
| stood on a lot of broken turf with
which wide floor had been overlaid.
Boards and timbers were cut away, and
the grave dug beneath them. | saw
enc face among others in the gloom
beyond the candle rows-that of his
lordship. He was coming up little
fight of stairs to where l stood. He
moved the candles, making a small
passage, and came up to me.
You're a brave man." said he, in
that low, careless tone of his.
"And you a coward" was my an
swer, for the sight of him had made
me burn with anger.
Don't commit yourself on a point
like that" said he, quickly. for, you
know, we are not we'll acquainted. l
like your pluck and l offer you what
is given to few here-an explanation"
He paused, lighting a cigarette. 1
| stood looking at him. The cold po-
! likeness of manner with which he had
taken my taunt, his perfect self-mas-
terry filled me with wonder He was
no callow youth, that man. whoever
he might be. He was boring at the
floor with the end of timber cane
as he continued to address me
Now, look here" he went on. with
little gesture of his left hand, be-
tween the fingers of which cigarette
was burning. You are now in the
= temple of patriotic society acting with
no letters patent, but in the good cause
of his Most Excellent Majesty King
George Ill, to whom be health and
happiness.
AS he spoke the name he raised his
nat, and a cheer came from all sides
of us.
at is gathered this night" he con-
tinued, ito avenge the death of Lord
Ronley, friend of his Majesty, and Of
many here present, and an honored
member of this order. For his death
you. and you alone, are responsible,
of no credit to your sword Many of
our people have been cut off from
their comrades and slain by cOwardly
stealth, have been led into ambush and
cruelty cut TO pieces by overwhelming
number, have been shut in prison and
done to death by starvation or by
stabs of knife there in your country.
Not content with the weapons of a
soldier, you have even resorted to the
barbarity of the poison-wasp. Par
don me, but you Yankees do not seem
TO have any mercy or fairness for a
foe. We shall give you better treat
ment. You shall not be killed like a
rat in trap. You shall have a chance
for your life. Had you halted, had
you been a coward, you would not have
been worthy to fight in this arena
You would not have come where you
are standing, and possibly even now
your grave would have been filled. II
you survive the ordeal that is to come
/ hope it will prove an example to you
of the honor that is due to bravery
of the fairness due a foe"
Many voices spoke the word amen
as he stopped, turning to beckon in
to the gloom about us. | was now quite
over my confusion. | began to look
about me and get my bearings. could
hear stir in the crowd beyond the
: lights, and a murmur of voices. Re
fiecting lanterns from many pillars
near by shot their rays upon me.
stood on a platform, some 30 fee
! square, in the middle of large room