The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-01-09
Under Ole Southern Cross.
gifts anything in this world"

gifts anything in this world"
Suddenly hell broke loose. They had
been so occupied with their talk that
they had forgotten they were in a
country swarming with enemies. AS
they passed field flied with stunted
shrubs, sheet of lead hissed over the
road bringing two of them to the
ground groaning with pain.
"Pick up yer wounded and come on
yelled the lieutenant in command.
"What in hell are you all standin' there
for:" They were punched up like a
lot of cattle, staring stupidly at the
landscape. They fired a volley into
the brush and then picking up the two
wounded men, they began to run slowly
up the road, reeling and stumbling
from side to side Gee! hurry up
fellers; there's about thousand of
en- shouted one of the men. The
Americans dashed into the main street
of the village. 1t was deserted. After
looking around for a moment they
rushed pell-mell into one of the larger
houses and began to barricade it
hastily. The little brown men came
tearing up the road en- masse, waving
their bolos and yelling like pack of
madmen. They formed huge white
splotch on the green and black land
scape.
But before they reached the village
the Americans had regained their COM
posure and the flur, flut, fiuttery of
their rifle fire made the insurgents
speedily seek for cover. Then they
formed huge Gordon and began to
close in on the doomed house-at least
they thought it was doomed. Inside
the house confusion reigned for a time.
The company crank jammed shell
while trying to load too hastily. 6
this-gun," he roared, sit alters
ketches jist when [ want it wustp'
"a w, shut up, Bill" said a voice, Eyer
alters a klcken'" "GO t hell" said
Bill. The Americans jabbed holes in
the frail side of the house and showing
their rifles through, fired furiously and
accurately. The insurgents poured a
storm of bullets at the structure. 1t
seemed as if it must soon be demol-
ished.
"What's the matter, kyan?" yelled
the lieutenant, "whaLs the matter,
hey?" But Ryan was lying with his
back to the wall gasping hoarsely. The
blood poured from a jagged hole in his
forehead and trickled in crimson
stream down his face, mixing with the
dirt and powder stains, and dyeing his
blonde beard sickening dark red.
Presently he died.
The excitement had been too much
for the ''delirious singer" He lay in a
dark corner of the hut, his mind wan
dering and his eyes bright with fever,
still singing, singing. The heat outside
had been intense, but in here it was
sitting. There were no windows and
the semi-twilight gave everything a
weird and unnatural aspect The
fumes of thu smoke caused the men to
cough and take long draughts from
their canteens The musketry fire was
incessant Oh both sides. The violet
light from the rifle barrels contrasted
strangely with the yellow sunshine
The wounded men lay groaning on the
floor. There were more than two now
The floor was strewn thickly with
empty shells.
"HOly smoke, but it's hot" yelled a
Virginian. Hello, my canteen's emp.
ty. Who's got some water?" Someone
passed him drink. "Waterl waterp
shouted the wounded men. The little
lieutenant poured the lukewarm water
down their parched throats. One hour
passed. Two. Three. The evening sun
was half way down the western hori