The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 356: what you’re looking at

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

ls 304 THE BRONZE STATUE. rable strength. The place was well de- | was battling there. ‘Then was it that fended by a detachment of the Aristo- | the Baron of Altendorf and the myri- cratic army ; and us it was a point as_ ads who crowded the ramparts of the important for the besieger's to obtain as | Castle, distinguished the form of the for the besieged to occupy, the conflict Taborite hero in the very thickest of became desperate in that quarter. the fight. Yes—Zitzka himself was >» in the meantime, throughout the | now there, in person leading the attack, spacious fortalice of Altendorf,. the mar- | and dominating the tide of battle which tinl music had been sounding since day- | had ebbed and flowed so many times at break, the banners waved and trembled that point during three whole days. In +n the morning breeze, and the clang of | his red right hand he wielded, as if it mailed or booted feet upon the pave- ‘were a feather, that tremendous sword ment of court-yard, rampart, and tox- ‘which, as it flashed through the air and — er, mingled with the varied noises and | caught with a lightning effect the gleam direful din of war. Within the apart-|of the setting sun, was winged with ‘aents and halls of the mighty strong- | death to all who dared oppose the one- hold. the ladies who had still remained | eyed warrior’s progress. as guests or in company with their hus- Darkness fell upon the scene; the bands, fathers, or brothers, at Altendorf | point was carried by the Taborites, the Castle, and the female dependants of | island was abandoned by the soldiers of those noble dames, were unable to con- | the Aristocratic army, and this first suc- cenl, much less subdue, the terror which | cess Was hailed by one side as the har- had seized upon them; and the moment 'binger of a speedy triumph, and by the the thunder of the cannon boomed trom ‘other as an omen of eventual defeat. the position of the besiegers and was On the following moruing, the ‘Tabor- echoed back from the ramparts of Al- | ites commenced a general assault upon | tendorf, the affrighted women huddled | the Castle. From every point did the together with despairing looks, or fled enthusiastic besiegers press on to cross to hide themselves in places that could |the moat, to break down the defences, have afforded no safety in case of the | to dash away all obstacles, and to storm> worst. the walls. The air pealed with the ac- For three days was the little island | clamations of the Republicans and with containing the out-houses, vigorously | the shouts of defiance thrown back from attacked and as gallantly defended ; but | the stern-looking ramparts of Altendorf. at the hour of the third sunset the Ta-| All was life, animation, and bustle horites seemed to be exerting a more|around the Castle, and within it. A than ordinary courage and putting forth living ocean had come to dash its waves almost superhuman efforts to accomplish against the walls of Altendorf ; and their purpose. Then terrible was the | inside those ancient precincts, a pent- conflict in that point for a short space. | up flood was ready to burst forth and The din of arms, the clashing of swords, | oppose its own bulk to that huge vol- the braying of horns, the deep thunder | ume of an animated sea, which raged, of the cannon, the shouts of triumph, | and foamed, and roared around, the appalling dissonance which marks And now the attack commenced 10 the roar of battle and the rage of war. | desperate earnest. Hundreds of rafts, From the nearest rampart did the | formed of the trees of the forest, were Baron of Altendorf and his son Rodolph | launched upon the moat; and beneath survey this bloody conflict,—the strug- | a murderous shower of barbed missiles gle of a few aguinst a few—for there and a galling fire from numerous hack- wins no room for the engagement of | buts and petronels, did the hardy Ta- -umbers there; and when the General- | borites cross the canal upon those float- issimo of the Aristocratic azmy saw the | ing bridges. ‘Then ladder after ladder desperate efforts which the Taborite | were raised against the walls and mouat- warriors were making, he felt an icy | ed by the dauntless Republicans ; ropes sensation come over him, like a presenti- | were slung, and the besiegers ascended, ment of evil in respect to the future, | fast and furious, tothe assault, As brave At the same moment a sudden burst of | ly were they met. "I'was no child’s play the declining sun broke upon the scene |that now took place, but a fierce, & of strife, throwing a transitory glow of | fearful, and a frightful struggle—hand lurid eplendor over the moat, the island, | to hand, and foot to foot—no hope nor and the immediate vicinage ; and thus, thought of quarter on either side, but with an evanescent brightness, bring- a tremendous conflict, which raised ev- ing into strong relief every warrior that | ery soldier into a hero, and made every ; . 7 — « SS a ai —— —— aoa s = ~<a eee ~ 4 = " a - ~a © om a ee ee ~ -— a é « ——~— @ ~ a tele tp ln ay ae , F2 ® € t : 7 : : > ‘ ‘ *i4 ’ ; { » ‘| a ‘ ‘ , Bei eee » 8 7 _ Pi .- we, G - " ; ’ * ‘ { ; » ca - ' é + | : : 3 ie. 5 i °° |) , he 4 . ; ; fe) a a ' eA : : *, ee ee ‘ ~ — comicbooks.com gue rd — = \ ———— —~<