The Ely miner., 1929-06-21


soldiers the blessing of drink.
The clash of contact came 10 me;
the thudding of cannon and the rasp
ing screech of a she'll: the swift
crash of musketry. the wild yells of
sudd. en- charges, and the shril agon
izing scream OF wounded horse. II
was all so real 70 me, all so vivid;
and | longed to be-shoulder to shoul.
der-with the brave French and Bel
gian lads who were waging a hope
less fight. But | was nobody, ] had
no identity, no country, no future.
no ties. was just an old
man, following in the wake of vic
torious army. bearing water-bag.
Now | saw Leroux and Besancon.
captains in the Juarist army. They
led the center of that vast force, and
remembered their words: Some
day a great battle between the EN-
pire and the Republic will hang in
the balance; then will come our op-
portunity-and the Republic will
lose"
The city, scarce a half-mile away.
lay before US, and between US and
that goal an army barred the way
The right wing of the Liberal forces
touched the bench to the east of the
city, the left wing spread across the
valley, while the center held 20 the
road. The wings were thrust for
ward like a great, swooping bird of
hut hnr
helpless the bird would be without
that body . and Leroux and
Besaucon controlled the massed forces
in the center which made up the body
The two brave sons Of France must
have had the same thought also, for
the center came apart-opened grad
ually as soldiers under orders of their
two captains went eastward toward
the bench or westward toward the
valley; leaving a gap that even
small force of French-entering
quickly and turning-might have put
the Juarist army to grievous dis
advantage.
Now Leroux played the game that
he and Besancon had doubtless re-
hearsed. he stood out in the middle
of that fatal opening in the Liberal
position and. facing the Allied forces,
fashioned a sort of bugle with his
hands:
Come on" he called in French
''the way is open! Approach, sons of
France. and win an empire!"
wrung my hands in impotent mis-
cry. Why-why did not they charge?
Here was a chance to save the citv,
to crush the Juarist army, to capture,
possibly, the great general himself.
Mon Dieu-had they turned to stone?
Surely they could hear him. less than
three hundred meters distant
Are you cowards," screamed Le-
roux: "why don't you move? Ap-
proach-the gate is wide, the gate
to freedom, 70 glory Come
in" He waited, expectant, but they
did not move.
Now his voice shrilled far above the
clamor Of strife: Name of Cd
are you dead on your feet, or do you
stand out there to have your pictures
taken; have you come to battle or
do you seek siesta?"
The Mexican soldiers understood
his gestures, if not his words. A dOz-
en- guns spoke behind him, and Le-
roux, raising his arms in final sup
plication, fell. The promising gap
closed again, and the body of the
giant bird Of prey moved on.
approached Leroux, lying beside
the road. raised his head and
poured a gourd of cool water down
his throat He opened his eyes. II
Il thank you" he whispered.
"a glorious thing. Renew cried
1T is Francois-do you know me?"
He smiled a little. Ever a clever
rascal! General Juarez never knew.
for Madrela never came. Well, we
tried" He attempted to raise his head
and failed. a film came over his eyes.
why did they not come in, Francois.
with the way so easy?"
| raised my eyes TO the field OF bat
tie. The Allied army had retreated
into the town, and the wings of the
invading force had closed in. knew
that Macmillan had lost the last
strategic gateway to the historic city.
what do you see, Francois? Ev-
erything is black before me; tell me
what you see."
Il see." said l, "a man on yonder
ridge who wigwags a signal with two
flags"
What does he say, dear friend?
Rene's whisper was family audible
booked that message from across
the valley: "Lamadrid is deadI"
That was il Colonel Lama
drid, the commandant of the garrison
| at Cuernavaca. had been killed. This
then, was why they hadn't charged
Mon Dieul could not repress a
sigh.
What is it. Francois; what mes
sage does be send? cannot see. !;
cannot hear the guns Tell me quick
Iy-I am going"
He says. Rene" | lied. that the
French have won-and that the EN-
pire is saved"
"Thank the good Godr whispered
Leroux. smiling-and smiling. died
The short, mild winter had gone
and spring had come again; the sun
| at midday was hot, and the early
morning had lost its chill. We had
| broken ground for the spring crop
Pasqual and had sowed the seed
and now fho tinv shoots were coming
up.
But in my heart there was no
| spring. no happiness, no rebirth. The
fields, rhe horse. the plow, food and
tSleep-that was my life. | had be-
come. i'm very truth, a brother 10 the