Part 14 (1/2)

We told his

”Oh no!” replied he, ”it is iame, and has its fixed rules, whereby, e are well acquainted with theo To-ment, without the least chance on our side The as can carry them

But that, you knoon't do for me I am an old soldier, and cannot run: and I believe I have with me some brave fellows that will stand by me to the last So that, when you hear of our battle, you will probably hear that your old friend De Kalb is at rest”

I do not know that I was ever more affected in my life

I looked at Marion and saw that his eyes atery De Kalb saw it too, and taking us by the hand, with a firentleratulation

I am happy To die is the irreversible decree of him who made us

Then what joy to be able to meet his decree without dismay!

This, thank God, is my case The happiness of man is my wish, that happiness I deereat an evil froladly meet the British to-morrow, at any odds whatever”

As he spoke this, I saw a so in his eyes which at once demonstrated the divinity of virtue and the immortality of the soul

With sorrowful hearts we then left hiet, while ed brain

”Oh my God!” said Marion, as we rode off, ”what a difference does education htened by her sacred ray, see here is the native of a distant country, coht for our liberty and happiness, while many of our own people, for lack of education, are actually aiding the British to heap chains and curses upon theust the 15th, 1780, that we left the areley's mills, twelve miles froht orders were given to march to surprise the enemy, who had at the same time commenced their march, to surprise the Americans To their mutual astonishment, the advance of the two aran to fire on each other The firing, however, was soon discontinued by both parties, who appeared very willing to leave the ht

A council of as called: in which De Kalb advised that the arood position, wait to be attacked --

But Gates not only rejected this excellent counsel, but threw out suspicions that it originated from fear Upon this, the brave old De Kalb called to his servant to take his horse, and leaping on the ground, placed himself at the head of his coeneral Gates, he also retorted with considerable warmth, ”Well, sir, a few hours perhaps will let us see who are the brave”

It should be recorded for the benefit of our officers, many of whose laurels have been blasted by the fueneral Gates was rather too fond of his nocturnal glass

”I wonder where we shall dine to-morrow?” said one of his officers, as, in the dark, they sat on their sleepy horses waiting for the day

”Dine, sir!” replied the confident Gates, ”why at Caive a pinch of snuff, sir, to be insured a beef-steak to-morrow in Camden, and lord Cornwallis atlight increased, the frightedover like cri extended lines of the British ar cannon, cae

The ive them a distant fire, broke and fled in the utmost precipitation Whereupon Gates clapped spurs to his horse, and pushed hard after the the rascals back”

But he took care never to bring himself back, nor indeed to stop until he had fairly reached Charlotte, eighty miles from the field of battle

I remember it was common to talk in those days, that he killed three horses in his flight

Gates and thethus shamefully taken themselves off, the brave old De Kalb, and his handful of continentals were left alone to try the fortune of the day

And never did h outnumbered more than two to one, they sustained the shock of the enemy's whole force, for upwards of an hour With equal fury the ranks-sweeping cannon and ions were nearly hter, with rage-blackened faces and fiery eyeballs, they plunge forward on each other, to the swifter vengeance of the bayonet Far and wide the woods resound with the clang of steel, while the red reeking weapons, like stings of infernal serpents, are seen piercing the bodies of the co the fatal stab, let drop their useless arers clasped the hostile steel that's cold in their bowels

Others, faintly crying out, ”O God I around, while the vital current gushed in hissing streams frole in the uproaring strife, and snatching the weapons of the slain, swell the horrid carnage Glorying in his continentals, the brave De Kalb towers before the face is like a red star, guiding their destructive course; his voice, as the horn that kindles the young pack in the chase of blood

A British grenadier, of giant size, rushes on him with a fixed bayonet

De Kalb parries the furious blow, and plunges his sword in the Briton's breast; then, seizing his falling ar foe Loud rise the shouts of the Americans; but louder still the shouts of theall the fierce conflicting line

There, the distant Cornwallis pushes on his fresh regi in thunder on the Aions, the brave De Kalb still ainst equal valor, aided by such fearful odds? The sons of freedoallant leader marks the fall of his heroes; soon hiht, he bends forward ani with loss of blood, he falls to the ground Several brave men, Britons and Americans, were killed over him, as they furiously strove to destroy or to defend In theaid, Monsieur du Buyson, ran to hi his arms over the fallen hero, called out, ”Save the baron de Kalb!

Save the baron de Kalb!” The British officers interposed, and prevented his immediate destruction