The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24
C TALL,
A.ALTsHELEp.

at once for the issue. Three or four OF the
heavy wooden benches. which served as
pews hastily thrown together, made a good
breastwork, and standing behind it Flem-
ing and his men waited to sec what the
enemy would do.
The hostile leader waited, too, perhaps
with the same purpose. and again the
building was silent. The fallen wall was
burning finely and the light from it now
shone through the window with a steady
radiance and drove tho dusk from the
room.
Fleming listened intently and heard
nothing from without. The battle, save
for his own part in it, seemed to have end
ed or TO have gone far away. The snow,
driven against the window panes, cleaned
red in the light of the flames, and the
wind increased in violence. All this was
but the affair Of a moment, and then
Fleming Turned the full attention of eye
aad ear to his enemy. That the two little.
bands had been left to fight their battle
alone was no inducemen6 to him to draw
away from the conflict; rather v increased
his desire to triumph, for the Held was now
wholly his own Evans whispered to him
tnat thoy must rush the rebels, and Flem-
ing, noeding his head, gave a quick COM
mand to the men, who leaped over the
fvssty fertilization that they no longer de-
sired and rRshed upon their enemies, the
Iieufenants, as always, at their head.
Fleming knew that it was a bold plan
allied to rashness, but lie trusted that sue
cess would come from its saddenness and
that he would be upon his antagonists be-
taso they could recover from theirsurprise
ard shoot down his men. A few swift
sseps took him acrpss tho room. He was
filed with a fierce c~1glta1ion, for be be-
iieyed that he was about to triumph, bat
even IN tao wild rush Of tho molnen and
with a mind concentrated npon the inn
pending struggle, he observed the room
sgain. th0 rows OF wooden benches, the
%aisles, the pulpit at The far end, tie stair
way that led to the second floor, ard the
light through the window flaring rsdly
over everything. Then the wild rash car
ried his little band upon the enemy, ard,
as he had hoped, the surprise of stke sid
den movement made its success.
A few scattering shots that went wild
were feed at them, and then they were over
the benches and in the midst Of the itriuin-
plant combat. Fleming was bgrning with
tho battle fever, and again he Logan to
shout.to his men and utter oashs CT which
no was unconscious, striking with his
sword and calling at times upon his an
tagonists to yield.
He found that he was opposed by sol
diers as valiant as his own. Beaten by
numbers, these who wero not wounded or
taken by force refused to surrender, and
wheeling about rs if by u sign from their
leader rushed up the stairway, which be-
gan almost at their feet, and sought refuge
and q second defense on the next floor.
Disappointment now mingled with
Jennings anger, but neither emotion
caused him to forget for the moment his
military prudence. Hastily dispatching a
few Of his men to keep watch at the win
dows outside and prevent escape there, he
sprang up the stairway with the others in
quick pursuit. Of tho fugitiyes. Rage and
excitement blinded him to the danger Of
shots from above, and Evans, as eager as
himself. pressed on by his side, while the
men crowded close after, the wooden stair
way giving a dull echo under their foot
steps.
The light from the flames of the burn
ing village did not reach the second floor,
and Fleming stood for a moment or two
trying to accustoin his eyes to the dusk.
AS the pupils distended he sew the last Of
the fugitives disappearing in d small ROOM,
and then he heard the slamming OF the
door and noises which indicated prepare
tions for defense. A litsIe gray haired
man in civilians attire and with q face of
fright sprang from a dark corner where be
had been orouching and darted to o win
dow, at which no pulled vainly with trem-
bling fingers as if he would open it and
spring out.
Fleming looked quickly about that be
might seize the salient points of this last
battlefield. He paid no attention to the
civilian, supposing him to be the sexton
or some one else in charge of the building
who had hidden there in fright while the
fight was going on below. AS his men
paused with him to await his orders he
felt for d sudden moment the solemn still
ness of the place and its character, bur the
silence was quickly interrupted by a beat
ing on the door of the room In which the
fugitiyes had taken refuge, and he knew
that they were breaking loopholes for their
rifles. At the SOUND his passion, which
had died for an instant, famed up again,
and he hastily drew his men to a far COR
ner where the rifle barrels, even when
thrust through tho holes In the door, could
not secure their range. Z Then while be
whispered with Evans and the two tried
to decide what would be best to do In tho 4
doubtful situation the curious silence
had in 1t SO much that was solemn
and impressive fell again over the place.
The defenders had broken the holes In
the door and were motionless silent, {
awaiting the advance Of their assailants +
who still stood III their corner heaitatiiig.
Only faint CLEANS Of light came through /