The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-06-24

The day had come. and over Gilbert
Steele there stole Observation-Disclosures
Of Madeleine de Valette-which sub
dued his ordinarily gay spirits and
csused his comrades to survey him in
wonder and regret.
The day Of the big fight and Gilbert
Steele was sad and gloomy. Some
thing wrong with him. sure" was the
comment banded about among his fell
low musketeers.
True. he had been sharply repri-
handed by the captain for his deIin-
quency Of the day before. He had
promised Wolf. back in the forest. up
the river. that he would not delay IL
given permission to stop a few mo-
ments to talk with a young lady. He
had failed to keep his promise to the
letter. for he had not caught up with
the squad of backwoodsmen under
VOLTS command when they reached
their boats at the rivers edge.
They had waited and hallooed for
him. He did not appear and had been
compelled to walk the entire way to
the camp. arriving after midnight.
thus firing him for the work Of the
day IN which every ounce Of energy
he could command would be required.
Yes. the captain had been angry
with Gilbert. but his good points were
40 well known that ne was not penal
tied in any way Therefore the lads
associates were certain that this sub
ject was not the one that was worry
Ing him,
Perhaps. after all. 1T was the girl
that the men with Wolf had seen him
with who was responsible for bis
dropping spirits. Yes. that must be
it. the men finally reasoned. But they
could not understand why Of all men
Gilbert Steele should be disturbed over
a cir! Surely a youth of his makeup
and personality would lever lack at
tpntion from and admirers among the
women folks No. indeed. OF this
they were assured.
Forward. march," At last the wei
come order came. But a very few
hours now would pass ere the
tous issues at stake Oh that day would
be decided
The detachment to which Gilbert
had beer assigned was to occupy q
line Of trenches outside the earth
works which partially protected New
Orleans. An attack was to be made
on the right flank Of the British line;
behind the Notifications. 1t devolved
upon Steele and his associates to aid
in covering the retreat of the attack
ing division and to repel h onslaught
Of the Rritishers. which. 1t was we'll
calculated. would follow.
The maneuver, as briefly indicated.
was one of great strategic Importance
to the American side. General Jack
son had outlined it to his staff. and
they unanimously Endorsed it.
The onslaught began. The Ameri-
cans valiantly assailed the forbidding
lines of grenadiers. Cannon thunder
ed. rifles spat their deadly missiles.
swords glistened before the brightness
of blue steel became dulled with
blood. men and horses writhed and
screamed in the death agony. prayers
and curses were heard on every side
amid the awful din. men who had
souls and men who had lost their souls
went down in the hellish holocaust to
sin no more. fathers stabbed fathers
and rode them down with sharp shod
chargers. towards killed brave men
and brave men killed towards. all on
a springtime morning. for the ghoulish
INN of misrule was running amuck
among mankind. eager for the harvest
of tears. suffering and death.
A false king had decreed that honest
men should murder one another In or
der to supper his dishonest govern
ment. and SO his men went forth to
battle. singing hymns in a cause they
little knew was unhoiy.
Gilbert Steele lay In the trench.
barely deep enough to shelter him
from the singing messengers OF lead
that threatened him.
The exultation OF the fighting man
combating his mortal foe sent his
blood a-tingling. thrilled his %throbbins
heart captured his epnls