The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-12-21

that they must rush the rebels. and tleIn-
ing, noddinR his head, gave quick com
mand to the men, who leaped over the
hasty fOrti1cation that they no longer de
sired and rushed upon their enemies. the
Heutenants. rs always, at their head
Fleming knew that It was bold plan
allied to rashnssS, but he trusted shat sue
. cess would come from its suddenness and
/ that he would be upon his antagonists be-
/ fore they could recover from their surprise
/ and shoot down his men, A few swift
steps took him across the room. He WAS
| filled with a fierce exultatiOn, for he be-
/ lieved that he was about to triumph, but
( even in the wild rush OF the moment and
with a mind concentrated upon the i'm
/ pending struggle, he observed the room
/ again, the rows Of wooden benches, the
aisles the pulpit at the far end. the stair
/ way that led TO the second door, and the
| light through the window daring rsdly
over everything Then The wild rush car
ried his little band upon the enemy, and,
as he had hoped. the surprise of the sud
| den movement made its success.
y few scattering shots that went wild
were fired at them, and Lhen they were over
! the benches and in the midst OF the trium
phant combat. Fleming WAS burning with
I the battle fever, and again he began TO
shout TO his men and utter oaths OF which
he was unconscious, striking with his
sword and calling at times upon mis- an
tagonists % yield.
He found shat he opposed by sol
/ diers as valiant as his own. Beaten by
/ mum bers those who We're not wounded OF
i taken by force refused to surrender, and
wheeling about as II by a sign from their
leader rushed up the stairway, which be-
gan almost at their feet, and sought refuge
and a second defense on the next floor
/ Disappointment now mingled with
/ Flemings anger, but neither emotion
caused him TO forget for the moment his
military prudence. Hastily dispatohing 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 the fugitives. 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 dull e0ho under their foot
| steps.
The light from Che flames of the burn
ing village did not reach she second floor,
and Fleming stood for moment or two
! trying TO accustom his eyes to the dusk.
! As the pupils disSsnded he SAW the last of
the fuRitivss disappearing in n small room,
| and then he heard the slamming of the
door and noises which indicated prepara-
tions for defense A little gray haired
man in civilians attire and with a face Of
a
bad been. crouchinR and dartBd 30 q win
+ dow, at &hich he'pulled -VainlS with trem
bling fingers as is he would open is and
spring out
Fleming looked quickly about that he
might seize the SALIENT points OF this last
battlefield He paid no attention TO the
civilian, supposiRg him 70 be the sexton
or some one else In charge of the building
who had hidden there In fright while the
: f1phf
paused with him 20 await his orders he
felt for a sudden moment the solemn still
ness of the place and its character, but the
silence was quickly interrupted by IA beat
/ ing on the door OF the room in which the
| fugitives 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 n far cor
ner where the rifle barrels, even when
thrust through the holes in the door, could
( not secure their range. Then while he
( whispered with Evans and the two tried
TO decide what would be best TO do IN the
doubtful sitsaeion- the curious silence
which had in ig so much that was solemn
and Impressive fell again over the place.
4 he defenders had broken she holes in
the door and were motionless and silent,
awaiting the advance OF their sssailants,
who still stood in their corner hesitating.
Only faint CLEANS OF light came through
the panes but the eyes OF the soldiers be-
came accustomed to she dusk The gray
haired little man had ceased his efforts 70
open the window and stood with his back
to 1t, his face expressing his fright and
horror at what had happened and what
was about 70 happen.
Fleming heard the ticking OF a clock
somewhere over his head, but he did not
look up to see. In his indecision his eyes
wandered to the civilian, and he was
amused at the old mans fright. But,