-
Articles/Ads
Article EPISODES IN THE LIFE OF A FREEMASON. ← Page 15 of 17 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Episodes In The Life Of A Freemason.
position . The moon shone out at intervals , but occasionally a driving mass of dark cloud rendered the surrounding objects wholly invisible . For some minutes W strained his eyes in vain on all sides—nothing ivas to be seen ; and he ivas on the point of giving the word to advance , intending to make for the armyfrom which they were UOAV about five miles distantwith
, , all speed . As , hoAvever , he was going to speak , another rifle-shot whizzed by him , and grazed the arm of the trooper at his side . At the same moment the moon broke forth from the clouds , and he discovered , at a little distance in then- rear , a dark mass ivhich , though well concealed by the shadow ofthe glen , proved , on closer
investigation , to be a party of Sardinian horse , reinforced , apl ^ arently , by some of the disaffected peasantry , who were always glad of an opportunity to manifest their hatred of Austrian rule . From the position ivhich they had taken up it was evident that their intention had been to attack the Austrians in the rear , as they were advancing towards the main body ; ancl very probabl
y they would have succeeded in cutting them off , but for the overzealous animosity of one of the peasantry , ivho could not restrain himself from taking a pop at what he considered his " natural enemy . " This circumstance , of course , disclosed the whole plan ,
ancl each party could not fail of knowing that they were in the presence of hostile troops . The only thing to be done , therefore , Avas to make the best disposition of his little force that the case Avould admit of , ancl prepare for a desperate struggle . So far as W Avas able to judge in the darkness of the night , the Sardinians were very much superior in point of numbers , but he
had been before engaged against a force numerically better than his own with complete success , ancl he was not therefore discouraged at this circumstance on the present occasion . Whether they relied on this advantage , or whether the commander of the party was unable to restrain the impetuosity of the peasants , the first move was made by the Piedmonteseand W seeing that
, , they intended an immediate attack , prepared to give them a warm reception . I shall not weary my readers with all the details ofthe desperate encounter ivhich ensued , and ivhich lasted for nearly three hoiu's , until the gray dawn of morning broke upon the small remaining fragments of the hostile bands . Suffice it to say , that at the close of the engagement there remained but W
ancl two troopers on one side , and seven on the other . A fierce ancl deadly combat between these parties then raged for some time , with doubtful success ; during ivhich , W received a fearful wound in his neck , from the thrust of a lance , so near to the jugular vein that he was afterwards told by the surgeon that
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Episodes In The Life Of A Freemason.
position . The moon shone out at intervals , but occasionally a driving mass of dark cloud rendered the surrounding objects wholly invisible . For some minutes W strained his eyes in vain on all sides—nothing ivas to be seen ; and he ivas on the point of giving the word to advance , intending to make for the armyfrom which they were UOAV about five miles distantwith
, , all speed . As , hoAvever , he was going to speak , another rifle-shot whizzed by him , and grazed the arm of the trooper at his side . At the same moment the moon broke forth from the clouds , and he discovered , at a little distance in then- rear , a dark mass ivhich , though well concealed by the shadow ofthe glen , proved , on closer
investigation , to be a party of Sardinian horse , reinforced , apl ^ arently , by some of the disaffected peasantry , who were always glad of an opportunity to manifest their hatred of Austrian rule . From the position ivhich they had taken up it was evident that their intention had been to attack the Austrians in the rear , as they were advancing towards the main body ; ancl very probabl
y they would have succeeded in cutting them off , but for the overzealous animosity of one of the peasantry , ivho could not restrain himself from taking a pop at what he considered his " natural enemy . " This circumstance , of course , disclosed the whole plan ,
ancl each party could not fail of knowing that they were in the presence of hostile troops . The only thing to be done , therefore , Avas to make the best disposition of his little force that the case Avould admit of , ancl prepare for a desperate struggle . So far as W Avas able to judge in the darkness of the night , the Sardinians were very much superior in point of numbers , but he
had been before engaged against a force numerically better than his own with complete success , ancl he was not therefore discouraged at this circumstance on the present occasion . Whether they relied on this advantage , or whether the commander of the party was unable to restrain the impetuosity of the peasants , the first move was made by the Piedmonteseand W seeing that
, , they intended an immediate attack , prepared to give them a warm reception . I shall not weary my readers with all the details ofthe desperate encounter ivhich ensued , and ivhich lasted for nearly three hoiu's , until the gray dawn of morning broke upon the small remaining fragments of the hostile bands . Suffice it to say , that at the close of the engagement there remained but W
ancl two troopers on one side , and seven on the other . A fierce ancl deadly combat between these parties then raged for some time , with doubtful success ; during ivhich , W received a fearful wound in his neck , from the thrust of a lance , so near to the jugular vein that he was afterwards told by the surgeon that