The Washington times., 1904-07-10
CHAPTER xx-continued.

breath they struck against the center OF
the Spanish line. It bent back, as does
d bow string under the pull OF a pow
erful archer. IN a moment the two
parties were so intermingled that 1t
was difficult to distinguish friend from
foe.
The opposing lines became one long
mass OF lighting. gasping. struggling
men The heaviest blows and the sharp
est would now decide the day
The battle resolved itself into hand
TO hand conflict. Most Of the men did
not wait TO reload after discharging
They dubbed their pieces and rushed
upon the nearest adversary.
Men fell with their skulls crushed or
their limbs broken by the heavy blows
Of the musket stocks. They were
trampled under foot by those who re-
manned erect.
As the melee waxed hotter some of
the contestants abandoned their weap-
Ons entirely and grappled their antago-
nists with naked hands or wrestled with
them prone upon the ground. The air
was filed with the sound OF pistol shots.
the groans of wounded and dying men,
and the shouts OF the others encourag-
ing their followers.
Every inch of the ground was hotly
contested. For time the issue between
the two parties seemed TO be evenly bal
anced.
The opposing lines swaycd TO and fro
now forward. now back wo great
hundred legged wrestler. locked in
desperate embrace. One by one, but
quickly. like the falling of stalks Of
grain, men sank to the earth AowIing
a.
with the vofcelessness Of death
The losses were nearly equal on 18th
s,des and the survivors struggled with
Urabated stubbornness. The English
fought to force the Spaniards back 10
the brink of the cliff, where they would
be compelled TO surrender or be driven
upon the rocks below The Spanish
strove to turn the Britons back down
the hillside, where. once started in re-
coil, their retreat would become a rout
Presently from below, a second body
of English appeared upon the scene
They were the party that had been
sent out 10 prevent a Spanish attack
from the north and which had been at
traeted hither by the din OF the con-
hict
Behind them could be seen the startled
faces OF some Of the Gibraltar citizens.
at a loss 10 account for the battle that
had so suddenly and Unexpectedly begun
upon the heights.
The re-enforcing party was a small
one. numbering not more than forty
men, but its appearance had a decided
effect upon the issue OF the conflict.
The cheers Of the men as they rushed
upon the field improved the tagging
spirits of the British ard discouraged
tho Spaniards, already nearly exhausted
by the herceness Of the conflict
Slowly the Spanish line began TO re-
cede. 1t WIS no sudden falling back.
but a slow. stubborn yielding OF the
ground. inch By inch and foot by foot
The English. perceiving their slight
advantage. redoubled their efforts,
shouting. striking, falling. amid a din
that re-echoed across the plain.
The tide OF battle bore the two par
ties steadily nearer and nearer to the
brow Of the cliff. II was a progress Of
Inches, and so inhamed were the men
with the bloody strife that they gave
no thought OF heed 10 the danger.
Suddenly there came from one Of the
combatants a scream that rose above
the howls and curses OF all his COM
rades. His adversary. a burly Briton
had forced him back to the very brink
OF the precipice, advancing upon him
with dubbed weapon
The poor wretch felt the ground slim
ping from beneath bis feet He realized
his peril. Bat Il was too hate to save
himself. Rls opponent. blind with the
fury Of battle. was pressing upon him
With a lasTt despairing cry the ton
ping man threw himself forward.
grasped his antagonist about the throat
and, locked IN a final embrace, the two.
victor and vanquished. disappeare over
the clif togDther.
That cry seemed to strike a note Of
terror IN tho breasts OF the struggling
Spaniards. 1t was the same sound that
night when their comrades had fallen
IN the ascent OF the path II forebodAd
fate moro terrible than death upon
the battlefield.
Some OF chem. IN this fresh access
OF terror, turned and tried 10 reach the
top Of the path down the clifrside.
Others. abandoning reason in the face OF
this example,. followed them.
The first 10 reach tho summit OF the
path were pushed over by those crowd
ing behind. before they could gain a
foothold on the steep descent. With
horrible crils OF helplessness. they dis
appeared IA the yawning space that
spread beyond the edge OF the cliff.
Those behind were likewise driven on
by their eoInpa MONS as well as by their
pursuers. II was impossible 10 stem
the rout or to hold the men upon the
brink OF tie precipice.
Like haplgEs sheep che Spaniards were
driven over the wall 70 fall upon the
bristling crngs that awaited them be-
low. The few who were not carried
away upon this stream Of death were
glad 20 cast down their arms and beg
the mercy IL their captors.
Mertrez had fought desperately at the
head Of his men. gradually closing in
upon the main line OF the Spanish as
the latter were forced back
For a tim0 he held the advantage over
the portion OF the British line directly
opposite him and succeeded IN turning
II back, bat the arrival OF the fresh
body OF English had destroyed this tero
porary advantage.
Nevertheless. his men were the last of