The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 300: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THt CHILD OF WATERLOO. 997 hands after my death? I leave them as memorials of my vengeance, and not as witnesses of my courage; that I care not for; but my revenge is sweet, and for that I live, and for that will I die. This evening I walked over the field, and saw many wounded near, and they seemed to be able to read in my eyes that I showed no mercy; that I was, in fact, the bane of their race. They seldom asked help of me after they saw my visage, and when they did, the point of my sword gave the answer. After having destroyed many Frenchmen, I came to a lonely part of the field. Here a charge of Prussian cavalry had done ywouch execution among the French. I found a wounded officer, supported by a youth of about fifteen or sixteen; they were anx- iously awaiting the arrival of the relief parties. ‘‘ Are they coming, Theodore?” inquired the wounded man. ‘*T do not see them, father.” The wounded man groaned, and the boy looked anxiously around, and I stood in the shadow of a tree. ‘Shall I go, or shout for assistance ?” ; ‘‘No, no, boy; it is useless todo so; you would only miss your way, and you would not find me again. Wait with me—wait with me until you see them.” ‘I will—I will, father.” I left the spot where I stood concealed, and walked forward until I came close to them. I could see they were father and son, both serving in the same regiment. ‘‘ What do you desire ?” ‘* Aid for a wounded officer,” said the boy. The man turned round, and gazed at me for a moment, and then at my uniform, saying: ‘* A Prussian—here, too; and yet we have the victory!” **You have; and yet you see I am on the field; the French are every day weakening themselves with their victories.” ** And their enemies also,” said the officer. ** We ghall see that; but your time is come. I never permit a Frenchman to live. Iam the avenger. I have received great wrongs, and I spill French blood, meet it when I may.” ‘* Will you draw your sword against a defenseless enemy ?” **Look at my sword. Isit not bloody? Are not the gouts of blood fresh and moist ?” “*'Yes, yes.” ‘Well, then, you see it is so, because it has let out the life of many a defenseless Frenchman.” “Cowardly wretch!” said the officer. ‘‘ Theodore, draw your sword, boy, I cannot aid you. God be with you; defend your- self to the last. I see by his eye you have no mercy to ob- tain. ‘*Nor do I want any,” said the youth, who drew his sword, and advanced upon me with the fury of a young tiger; and had I not been prepared, or had I been a less active swordsman, I might have been overcome; but the fight, though furious, was short; 1 plunged my sword, after a few thrusts, right through Ss e 6 comicbooks. com