The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1915-02-25
CHAPTER V.-ContInued.

'''A'''''
CHAPTER V.-ContInued.
An old house across the street.
which had been on fire, had collapsed
INTO mere mound of slate, charred
beams, and plaster. Through the
brown heat which quvered above the
ruins | could see out into the country
AMI what | saw was line of hills,
crowned with smoke, rolling stretch
or meadow below. set here and there
with shot-torn trees and hop-p poles;
ana over this uneven ground two regi-
ments of French curassiers and two
squadrons of lancers moving slowly
forward as though on parade
Inc cuirassiers moved on slowly,
the sun binding sheet OF fire on
their armor; now and then a horse
tossed his beautiful head, now and
then steel helmet turned. flashing
Grlefstricken. | groaned aloud:
Madame, there rides the finest cav
airy in the world!-to humiliation"
How could | know that they were
coming deliberately. to sacrifice them
selves?-that they rode with death
heavy on their souls, knowing we'll
there was no hope. understanding that
they were to die to save the frag-
ments of q beaten army?
They are doomed. like their IA
thers. | muttered-"sons of the cut
rassiers Of Waterloo. Look. madame!
Look on the men of France! You say
you do not understand the narrow love
OF country! Look"
1T is too pitiful. too horrible" she
said, hoarsely. How the horses fall
in the meadow"
They will fall thicker than that
in this street,"
"See!" she cried; they have begun
to gallop! They are coming! Oh.
cannot iook!-I-cannot!"
Far away. a thin cry sounded above
the cannon din: the doomed cuiras-
siers were cheering 1t was the first
charge they had ever made; nobody
had ever seen cavalry OF their arm on
any battlefield OF Europe since Wa.
terloo.
Now among the thicket of hop.vines
long lines of black arose: there was a
fash, belt OF smoke. another flesh
then the metallic rattle OF bullets on
steel breast.plates. Entire ranks Of
cuirassters went down in the smoke OF
the Prussian rifles. the sinister clash
and crash OF falling armor filled the
air. And. above the Internal fracas
rose the heavy cheering OF the
doomed riders.
Into the deep. narrow street wheeled
the horSemen. choking road and side
walk with their galloping sQuadrons.
4 solid cataract of impetuous horses,
a flashing torrent OF armored men
and then! Crash! the first squadron
dashed headlong against the barri.
cade Of wagons and went down.
Into them tore the squadron behind.
unable to stop their maddened horses.
and into these Numbered squadron
after squadron. unconscious OF the
dead wall ahead.
Posted behind the upper and lower
windows Of the houses. the Prussians
shot into them. 80 close that the
flames fron the rifles set the jackets
Of the cutrassiers on fre. Then ter
ribIe butchery of men and horses be-
gan.
In front OF tho barricade a huge
fellow ruined In his horse and turned.
whitc-Eioved hand raised. red epau.
let's tossing.
''Hait! Halt" he shouted. stop
the lnncersi" And u trumpeter. dis.
engaging himself from the frantic
chaos. set his long. silver trumpet
TO his lips and blew the HALT"
Thea into this awful struggle gal.
Hoped tho two squadrons OF the Ian.
GERS. For moment the street swan
under their nuttcring red.and.white
lance pennons. then n yolley swept
m-another-another - and down
they went
Tho street was still crowded with
cntrapped cuirassicrs. huddled In
groups or riding up and down the
walls mechanically seeking shelter. A
few OF these. dismounted. were wear.
lily attempting to drag IA heavy cart
away from the barricadc: the Prus.
SLAMS shot them. one at time. but
others came to help. and n few Ian.
GERS aided them. and at length they
managed to drug hay.wason aside.
giving a narrow pAssage to the open
country beyond. Instantly tho Prus.
sian infantry swsrmed out Of tho
Shouaes and into the street. shouting.
"Prisonen!" pushing. striking. and
dragging thu exhausted cuirassielss
hen thGl1 saddles. But contact with