The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 377: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 375 In wild disorder, amidst the corpses that lay so ghastly there, were scattered all the symbols and implements of dead- ly strife, some whole,. some broken, some still bright, and others still stained with the crimson tide of life. Swords and lances, spears and shields, helmets and breast-plates, haekbuts and petro- a eyes to shut out the dread spectacle— yes, and more than once, when reeling beneath the influence of over wrought emotions, paused to lean against the stump of a hewn tree or a broken gun- carriage for support. In a few minutes she found herself face to face with a Taborite sentinel, nels, banners and pennons—all, all were | from whose halbred the beams of the spread in utter confusion there! But, | sinking sun were brightly reflected. worse—oh! ten thousand times worse + Who art thou, gentle one ?’ demand than these, was the spectacle of large | ed the soldier. pools of blood upon the ground, and of clots of gore mingling with brains bat- tered out, and crushed bones protruding | from the skin, and lumps of human flesh cut off. Add to all these hideous appearances the deep furrows ploughed up in the earth by the cannon-balls, the ruts made by the wheels of the gun-car- riages. and the myriad marks of foot- steps in the gardens and the fields, then the trees of the forest which had been hewn down, and those which were gashed by glancing weapons or stricken by artillery—yes, all these appearances added to those before depicted, and the result will be a pretty accurate idea of the aspect of the battle-ground at that sunset hour. But ah! over this field so strewed with ghastly trophies of the fight, amid the corpses which encumber and the sveapons that cover the ground, with the last straggling beams of sunset play- ing upon her lovely countenance; and with her person enveloped in a cloak, the charming forest maiden, Angela Wildon, slowly and timidly pursues her way ! CHAPTER XCIII. ANGELA AND THE TABORITES. Yrs, ’tis indeed she, that admirable — — ‘IT am not an enemy in disguise,’ was the response, delivered in the sweetest tones of Angela’s musical voice; and she displayed the ring which Sir Er- nest de Colmar had given her, and which he himself had originally receiv- ed from John Zitzka. ‘Pass!’ was the laconic ejaculation which fell from the lips of the Taborite sentinel as the jewel flashed before his eyes. And Angela, overjoyed at this suc- cessful trial of the talismanic proper- ties of the ring, pursued her way over the battle field, amidst the corpses— amidst the pools of blood—amidst the broken weapons and battered armor that strewed the ground. Another sentinel was encountered and passed; a third, a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth, all were satisfied by the pro- duction of the ring, the influence of which produced an instantaneous effect upon them. And now the forest mai- den gained the Taborite encampment which she skirted with rapid steps, pur- suing her way towards the little chapel which stood in that part of the forest that extended up to the right wing of Altendorf Castle. She gained that little chapel at length —she entered it, and she knelt down to return thanks to heaven for having con- ducted her thus far in safety. But the crucifix had been removed from the miniature altar in that place: the hand of the Taborite had withdrawn the heroine who only a few hours hack took | symbol of the Catholic faith. Never- leave of Sir Ernest de Colmar—tore | theless, Angela Wildon prayed fervent- herself away from the side of his inva-/ly to the deity whom she worshipped, lid couch, in order to perform another |and poured forth her gratitude to the act of beneficence and generosity, which | guardian saint in whom she reposed her her noble nature prompted and her|confidence; and then, rising from her dauntless courage inspired her to carry | knees, she looked searchingly around to out! ascertain if her movements were es8- But oh! what horrified feelings filled | pied. her soul—feelings commingled with an} ‘The interior of the chapel, which was immense pity—as she trod amidst the merely about three or four yards in ex- dead and the relics of the fight; and|tent, was lighted only by the flickering such a sickening sensation crept over | beams that penetrated trom the western her, that she more than once closed her'horizon through the trees, which had comicbooks.com oe y ad , Dstk*. 6 47%* se ; « . | i | * . é or . - - ease wee 44 = +" Ss, Ie fon rape, ‘ * —_—- « zat * tu ie * ns *** > * = es mews ©) t, aa \ yt ee eee 2 Feu - ax <a - peg *) <P Eee ~~ * E a > . AS - = . - —-_ outed ad - a & - ~~ Fae a ‘_—# oe a x oe * ey . . Va eS rae... ad — - = ~~, 5 - . a te - s - rd a — ~ “6 a Ninel >. @ > % 2 * > . > oe * - Jf -* *. PR.“ « ‘ * ~~ . , ae a - —F “ > a «es a . Legere. 464 bo eP che TEA 4 « 2 nl me Se _ als or ~ . 4 Wee es -* + ee hn Vlei