



Produced by Annie R. McGuire








[Illustration: HARPER'S ROUND TABLE]

Copyright, 1896, by HARPER & BROTHERS. All Rights Reserved.

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PUBLISHED WEEKLY. NEW YORK, TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 1896. FIVE CENTS A COPY.

VOL. XVII.--NO. 856. TWO DOLLARS A YEAR.

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[Illustration]

THE BATTLE OF EASTER MONDAY.

BY W. G. VAN TASSEL SUTPHEN.


Fred March had an idea. It was even a brilliant idea, and the longer he
pondered over it, the more certain he was that it was a practical one.
"And that, after all, is the important point," as Jack Howard had sagely
observed, after being taken into Fred's confidence. Here it is as it
finally resolved itself into tangible form.

"The Twelfth Regiment of the Transylvania State National Guard are to
hold a sham fight on Easter Monday. There has been a great deal of talk
about the use of the bicycle in war, and here is a chance to test the
theories. Let us organize the boys into a bicycle corps, and offer our
services to your father, Colonel Howard, who commands the regiment."

Jack reflected, soberly, "How could we be of any use?"

"We could be organized as a body of mounted riflemen, and also do scout
and staff service. The fight is going to be somewhere on the Quantico
golf course, and the grass on the links is short and smooth enough for
riding. Easter comes so late this year that the frost is out of the
ground already, and it isn't likely to rain before Monday. And then
there are the roads in all directions."

"How many fellows can we muster?"

"Well, you know that all the boys from boarding-school are at home for
the Easter holidays, and I've counted up sixty-five single wheels and
three tandems; then we have the motor cycle, the 'Happy Thought,' and
the people at the Driving Park have promised to lend me the 'quad' that
they have there for pacing the circuit riders--an available force
altogether of seventy machines and seventy-seven men."

Jack became enthusiastic. "Let's go down to the armory and propose it to
my father," he said, briefly.

Colonel Howard was mildly amused when the proposition was first broached
to him, but as the boys proceeded to explain the practical details of
the plan he grew interested.

"There may be something in it," he said, finally, "and I'll think it
over."

Two days later Colonel Howard sent for Fred and Jack, and informed them
that their idea had been favorably considered, and that the services of
the bicycle corps would be accepted.

"I have arranged," said Colonel Howard, "that the boys on the single
wheels and two of the tandems shall be armed with short repeating
carbines, and shall act as mounted riflemen, under command of Fred
March. I have a friend in the gun-factory at Decatur, and he has
promised to lend me two rapid-fire guns, which I will have mounted on
the third tandem and on the 'Happy Thought.' Jack will take command of
the 'quad,' and will act as a member of my personal staff. You will
report with your men at the armory Monday morning at nine o'clock
sharp."

The idea had actually materialized, and Fred was naturally pleased to
think that his suggestion was to be taken up in earnest. But he was even
more anxious that the experiment should be a success and that the
military value of the bicycle should be demonstrated.

Now sham fights are generally carried on after a carefully prepared
plan, every movement being carefully thought out beforehand, even to the
strategy. But on this occasion it had been proposed that an actual
problem should be placed before the two commanders, and that they should
be allowed to work it out in their own way. Here, then, was a chance for
real strategy, and, other things being equal, brains must win. Of
course, as only blank cartridges are used, umpires must be appointed to
determine the practical results of the various movements, and to finally
award the victory to the side which in their judgment has fairly won it.

The field of operations had been decided upon, and Saturday afternoon
Fred and Jack jumped on the "Happy Thought" and went down to have a look
at it.

The map on the opposite page gives a good idea of the military features
of the battle-ground, and if you study it carefully, you will easily
understand the conditions of the problem.

[Illustration: PLAN OF THE BATTLE-FIELD.]

It is supposed that