Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-11-18

"No KNOWN what's likely to hap
pen. Billy. Now there's that Rough
Rider feller. He may take it into his
head to run in behind 'em an drive
'em on to IFS just T. make 'em fight"
Pete and Bill laughed at this sally
and rolled up in their blankets for
sleep.
The next day very little fighting
was done. Both sides fred from their
trenches intermittently across the half
mile of open country which separated
them. But no advance was made by
either, and night came without q
change in the situation.
Bill lay down under his gun and
tried to sleep but could not. The
moon shone bright and clear and filed
the valley with strange shadows. The.
American outpost, two hundred yards
away, could be distinctly seen, and, as
they marched silently to and fro, all
seemed peaceful and secure.
All at once II sharp report sounded
with startling distinctness on the still
night air. 1t was on the left flank, a
mile or more away, but it meant some
thing.
Bill sat up with jerk and listened
intently.
"That's no Krag," he said to his
cartridge man.
"Too Dead" was the reply.
"Probably Second Mass. TELLER
on outpost took shot Mt his shadder. I"
Crack.
Another shot and then another.
This time it was the sharp ping of a
Mauser.
| INSTANTLY the whole American line
was q scene of activity and excitement.
! Som ething WAS happening on the left
flank, but just what Bill could not de.
termine. However, he manned his
gun and trained it down the valley
where now the shootirg was incesssnt.
In few minutes it was all about his
! ears, general engagement was on,
and then he understood what the fir.
ing meant
The enemy had been massed oppo.
site the weakest point Of the Ameri.
can line, and was now trying to re-
take the hill, charging in solid eel.
umn, sixteen abreast, across the field.
In an instant Bill graspsd the situa.
ton aud the gun crank and sent a
shower OF bullets against the oncom.
ing foe.
"Whir-r-r-r, whir-r.r.r," sang the
gatliug-gun, and deadly fire, wither.
, ing in effect, fell on the Spaniards. 1t
was music for the Americans and Bill
realized for the first time the trua
purpose of his gun.
"Whir.r-r-r, whir-r-r-r."
Faster and faster flew the crank.
The bullets sped onward in all un-
ceasiug volley. The muzzle of the
gun was sheathed in continuous
flame and formed an admirable target
for the Spaniards.
Three Of Bills squad were killed,
fourth wounded, and he was left
with one man to work the gun in less
than five minutes.
On, on, came the enemy. Bill
worked with an energy born Of de-
SPAR. Unless the onslaught could be
checked, and that speedily, the hill
would be retaken and the Americans
must retreat. The gatling-gun was
hot now. so hot that it blistered the
hand to touch it-but the fire never
ceased. Great drops Of sweat and
blood poured down over Bills face.
He was wounded in q dozen places,
but never faltered.
"Throw up another belt, and be
lively about it, Jimmy" he called
But Jimmy did not respond. He
lay lifeless across the ammunition box.
And so Bill grabbed the belts of cart
ridges and worked the gun alone.
The muzzle now shone bright
red. 1t was red hot. The ammuni.
ton was pouring out, a stream OF mol
ten metal. Bill did not see what he
was doing. Everything grew blue
and hazy to his eyes, and he dropped
to the ground.
Just as no let 60 the crank great
shout went up from the American
trenches. The enemy was in retreat.
Bill knew the day was saved. Then
he lost consciousness.
As he fell, Mango Pete and couple
of comrades jumped from the trenches
and rushed up to him.
81 guess our Billy's gone" re.
marked Pete as he tore open the shirt
and put his hand over the heart.
"No! by lingo. he's alive yet. boys"
he resumed, feeling faint beating in
the breast.
"Pretty badly cut up though" said
another.
eyes, but guess not dangerous,
said Pete, surveying with critical eye
the numerous wounds.
"Say, Pete, he's the boy that did
the business this trip" remarked the
other.
'Sure," said Pete.
eff he hadn't can see a picture OF
MS doin' double.quick now the same
way we come up yesterday"
"Sure."
''He gifts shoulder straps out O. this,
I'll bet"
"Sure."
And the prophecy came true.
The gatling-gun which Bill used
thot night was but warped and
twisted piece of metal next day. 1t
may now be seen in the Museum at
Washington, where it is on exhibition
as the weapon which terminated the
sharpest, shortest engagement OF the
whole war.
MucE Nnnnc