The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1903-11-27

them, and amid loud cries and with
stumbling over the dead and the dy-
ing, torn and bleeding, they were driv-
en- back. But they set up a yell when
they saw the damage their gun had
wrought. They could foresee the
havoc of a better managed fire. Now
the yells were hushed. The Majors
men could hear a black Vulcan ham,
mering his iron; then a lesser noise
they were driving the scraps into the
gun.
1T will be worse this time" said the
Major. They have cut a deeper niche
in the log to hold the breech and
therell be no chance of its slipping.
These walls will be shattered like an
egg-shell. Steady, they are at it."
Again the gun lay across the win
dow ledge. The red-hot poker bobbed
up, glowing in the dim light, but there
vas q crash and a rain Of shot and it
flew back out of sight; and 1t must
have been hurled through the rear
opening of the wall, for they were a
long time in getting it. But 1t came
again, this time sparkling with white
heat. The guns about the square kept
up an incessant fire, but owe the
powder the poker bobbed, and then
the whole town shook with the ter
rife jar, and windows showered their
glass upon the street, and through the
smoke a thrilling sight was seem
the roof of the brick building was
blown into splinters and in the air
flew boots, hats and the fragments Of
men-Lne gun had exploded.
"Out and charged" the Major shout
ed. Forward, Captain Batts!" he
cried at the foot of the stairs, and the
men came leaping down. The cry
was taken up, and from evedy build
ing about the square the men were
pouring. Mayo had no time to rally
his force; indeed, it was beyond his
power, for his men were panic-smit-
ten. Into the fields and toward the
woods they ran for their lives. 1t was
now a chase. Bang, to right and the
left, and in the fields the fleeing
blacks were falling, N by one. Once
or twice they strove to make a stand,
but hell snorted In their faces-and
death barked at their heels. In their
terror they were swift, but from afar
the rifles sucked their blood, The
woods were gained and now they were
better protected In their flight, dodg.
ing from tree to tree; some of them
faced about and white men fell, and
thus was caution forced upon the
pursuers. So much time was gained
that Mayo rallied the most of his men,
but not to stand and fight. He had al
other plan. In a small open space,
once a cotton patch, stood a large
church, built of logs, and timber he
fastened his men, and therein they
found a fortress. The Major called in
his scattered forces. They gathered
in the woods abou the church.
Are you going to charge them?"
old Gideon asked.
mo, sir, that would be certain
death to many of us. Hemmed in as
they now are they'll be deadly des-
perate. Well have to manage it some
other way" A shower of buck-shot
few from the church.
u CAD, Major, they've got buck
shot" said Gid, "And they could NOW
us down before we could cross that
place. They still outnumbered US two
to one-packed In there like sardlnes.
Don't you think we'd better scatter
about and peck at 'em when they
show an eye? I'd like to know who
built that church. Confound him he
cut out too many windows to suit
me-"
Dodge down, mem" cried the
Major. "Mr Low, get back there,
sipl"
BE 80 kind as to oblige me with
the time" said Low. "The rascals
have smashed my watch. Punch a
hole in my bath and then ruin my
watch, you know. Most extraordinary