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Article THE WOODEN LEG: AN HELVETIC TALE. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Wooden Leg: An Helvetic Tale.
where liberty made us conquerors . See , it was on that side the army of the enemy advanced ; thousands of lances glittering at a distance with more than two hundred horsemen covered with sumptuous armour . The plumes that shaded their helmets nodded as they marched ; and the earth resounded with their horses hoofs . Our little troop was already broken . We were but three or four hundred men . The cries ofthe defeat were re-echoed from
every side , and the smoke of Nefels in flames filled the valley and spread with horror along the mountains . However , at the bottom of a hi / 1 , where we now are , our chief had placed himself . He was there , where those two pines shoot up from the edge of ( hat pointed rocks . 1 think 1 see him now , surrounded by a small number of warriors , firm , immoveable , and calling around him the
dispersed troops . I hear the rustling of the standard that he waved in the air ; it was like the sound of the wind that precedes a hurricane . From every side they ran towards him . Dost thou see those floods rush down from the mountains ? Stones , rocks , arid trees , overthrown , in vain oppose their course ; , they o ' er leap , or bear down all before themand meet together at the bottom of that pool So
, . we ran to the cry of our general , cutting our way through the enemy . Ranked around the hero , we made avow , and God was our witness , to conquer or die . The enemy , advancing in order of battle , poured down impetuously upon us ; we attacked them in our turn . Eleven times' we returned to the charge , but always were
forced to retire to the shelter of these hills ; we there closed our ranks , and became unshaken as the rock by which we were protected . At dast , inforced by 30 Swiss warriors , we fell ' suddenly on the enemy , like the fall of a mountain , or as some mighty rock descends , roils through the forest , and with a horrid crush lay waste the trees that interrupt its course . On every side the enemy ; both liorse and footconfounded in a most dreadful tumultoverthrew
, , each other to escape our rage . Grown furious by the combat , we trod under foot the dead and dying , to extend vengeance and death still farther . I was in the middle ofthe battle . A horseman pf the enemy in his flight rode over me , and crushed my leg . The soldier , who fought the nearest to me , seeing my condition , took me on his shouldersand ran with me out ofthe field of battleA
, . holy father was prostrate on a rock not far distant , and imploring heaven to aid us—Take care , good father , of this warrior , my deliverer cried ; he has fought like a son of liberty ! He said , and flew back to the combat . The victory was ours , ' my son , it was ours ! hut many of us were left extended on the heaps of the enemy . Thus the weary mower reposes on the sheaves himself has made .
I was carefully attended ; I was cured ; but never could find out the man to whom I owe my life , I have sought him in vain , I have made vows and pilgrimages that some saint of Paradise , or some angel 3 > would reveal him to me . But , alas ! all my efforts have Leen fruitless . I shall never in this life shew him my gratitude . The young shepherd , having heard the old warrior , with tears in
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Wooden Leg: An Helvetic Tale.
where liberty made us conquerors . See , it was on that side the army of the enemy advanced ; thousands of lances glittering at a distance with more than two hundred horsemen covered with sumptuous armour . The plumes that shaded their helmets nodded as they marched ; and the earth resounded with their horses hoofs . Our little troop was already broken . We were but three or four hundred men . The cries ofthe defeat were re-echoed from
every side , and the smoke of Nefels in flames filled the valley and spread with horror along the mountains . However , at the bottom of a hi / 1 , where we now are , our chief had placed himself . He was there , where those two pines shoot up from the edge of ( hat pointed rocks . 1 think 1 see him now , surrounded by a small number of warriors , firm , immoveable , and calling around him the
dispersed troops . I hear the rustling of the standard that he waved in the air ; it was like the sound of the wind that precedes a hurricane . From every side they ran towards him . Dost thou see those floods rush down from the mountains ? Stones , rocks , arid trees , overthrown , in vain oppose their course ; , they o ' er leap , or bear down all before themand meet together at the bottom of that pool So
, . we ran to the cry of our general , cutting our way through the enemy . Ranked around the hero , we made avow , and God was our witness , to conquer or die . The enemy , advancing in order of battle , poured down impetuously upon us ; we attacked them in our turn . Eleven times' we returned to the charge , but always were
forced to retire to the shelter of these hills ; we there closed our ranks , and became unshaken as the rock by which we were protected . At dast , inforced by 30 Swiss warriors , we fell ' suddenly on the enemy , like the fall of a mountain , or as some mighty rock descends , roils through the forest , and with a horrid crush lay waste the trees that interrupt its course . On every side the enemy ; both liorse and footconfounded in a most dreadful tumultoverthrew
, , each other to escape our rage . Grown furious by the combat , we trod under foot the dead and dying , to extend vengeance and death still farther . I was in the middle ofthe battle . A horseman pf the enemy in his flight rode over me , and crushed my leg . The soldier , who fought the nearest to me , seeing my condition , took me on his shouldersand ran with me out ofthe field of battleA
, . holy father was prostrate on a rock not far distant , and imploring heaven to aid us—Take care , good father , of this warrior , my deliverer cried ; he has fought like a son of liberty ! He said , and flew back to the combat . The victory was ours , ' my son , it was ours ! hut many of us were left extended on the heaps of the enemy . Thus the weary mower reposes on the sheaves himself has made .
I was carefully attended ; I was cured ; but never could find out the man to whom I owe my life , I have sought him in vain , I have made vows and pilgrimages that some saint of Paradise , or some angel 3 > would reveal him to me . But , alas ! all my efforts have Leen fruitless . I shall never in this life shew him my gratitude . The young shepherd , having heard the old warrior , with tears in