The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-09-13

/ tlng their packs under their heads and
lighting their pipes, they lived in lazy
peace. Bees hummed in the garoen and
a scent Of flowers came through the
open window
There was "A sudden little epatter OF
shooting. A cry from Jones rang out.
With no little intermediate scrambling,
the sergea mt leaped straight to his feet.
Now be cried, let us see what you
are made Of! IT,, he added bitterly,
you are made of anything"
A mau yelled: Good God, cane you
see you're all tangled up in my cart
ridge belt?"
Another man yelled: 'Keep on my
legs! Can't you walk on the !,Cor?"
To the windows there was Eiind
Tlsh OF sIumberous men, who brushed
str rom their eyes even as they made
ready TheiI rifles. Jones and Patter-
son came stumbling up the steps. cry
ing dreadful information. Already the
enemy's bullets were spilling and sing
ing over the house
The sergeant suddenly was stiff and
cold with a sense Of the Importance Of
the thing
There was a howl There they are!
There they comet" The rifles cracked.
A light smoke drifted idly through the
rooms. There was strong odor as
from burnt paper and the powder OF
firecrackers
Now" said the sergeant, ambitious
ly, I'VE can beat them off easily II you
men are good enough"
There was fusillade against an.
other side of the house. The sergeant
dashed into the room which command
ed that situation. He found dead
soldier on the floor.
Patterson" cried Sergeant Morton.
YES" said Patterson, his face set
with some deep-rooted quality OF de-
termination. Still, he was mere farm
boy
Go in to Knowles window and shoot
at those people" said the sergeant,
hoarsely. Afterwards he ooughed
Some of the fumes of the fight had
made way to his lungs.
Patterson looked at the door into
this other room. He looked at 1t as II
he suspected 1t was to be his death.
|
across the body of Knowles and fired
vigorously into q group of charming
plum trees.
They can't take this house." de.
clared the sergeant in a contemptuous
and argumentative tone. He was ap-
parently replying to somebody A
man who had been shot in the throat
looked up at him. Eight men were
firing from the windows. The sergeant
detected in a corner three wounded
men, talking together feebly.
Don't you think there is anything
to do?" he bawled. go and ret
Knowles cartridges and give them to
somebody that can use them! Take
Simpsons, too" The man who had
been shot in the throat looked at him.
OF the three wounded men who had
.been talking, one said alphabetically:
my leg Is all doubled up under me-"
Meantime the sergeant was reload
ing his rifle. His foot slipped in the
blood of the man who had been shot
in the throat.
why, we can hold this place!"
shouted the sergeant jubilantly.
Corporal Flagler suddehly spun from
his window and fell in a heap.
, Sergeant" murmured man, as he
dropped to seat on the floor out of
danger, 4 can't stand this. l swear
, can't. / think we should run away"
Morton, with the kindly eyes Of a
good shepherd, looked at the man.
You are afraid, Johnston; you ere
afraid" he said softly. The man strug-
gled to his feet, cast upon the sergeant
a gaze full of admiration, reproach and
j. despair, and returned to his post. A
i moment later he pitched forward, and
Q thereafter his body hung Imply out OF
t the window.
S The Sc, geant laid his rifle against
I the stonework of the window frame
s and shot with care until his magazine
v was EMPTY Behind him, man sim
g ply grazed on the elbow was wildly
q sobbing like girl.
e shut up" said Morton, without
t turning his head. Before him was 6
0 vista OF fields, clumps of trees, woods
populated with little, stealthy, tieetine
= figures.
4 He grew furious. "Why didn't hi
s send me orders?" he cried aloud. Tn,
emphasis on the word "he" was i'm
d pressive.
4 The man who had been grazed OF
q the elbow still set up his bleat. Nor
!. toms fury veered to this soldier Can
you shut up? Can't you shut up
: Can't you shut up? Fight! That's tn,
4 thing to 60! Fight"
q A bullet struck Morton and he fel
a upon the man who had been shot II
) the throat There was a sickeDini
% moment Then the sergeant rolled of
q to a position upon the bloody floor HI
; turned himself with last effort unit
II he could look at the wounded VIII,
a were able to look at him.
His arms weakened and he droppe,
Ia on his face.
n After an interval young subalterl
4 OF the enemy's infantry, followed b.