The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-08-29

the sound OF splintering wood. Of
breaking glass. felt the blood in my
veins leap to the fever Of II.
We were upon the fellows with a
rush, firing IN their very faces, and
leaping madly at them. There was
little room between the walls, barely
space for a half-dozen to fgha In,
shoulder to shoulder, but those be-
hind, eager to strike also. pressed up
so recklessiy that we hurled them
back. To me It was all confusion, up
roar, deadly fighting. ! could think
Of nothing to right or left. only Of the
struggling devils in my front Faces,
forms, came and vanished In the swirl
Of smoke, brown gun-harrels whirled
before me, flashes OF fire burned my
eyes, strange features. bearded. maIig-
nant, glared at me. leaped straight
at them, striking fierceIy. Once saw
Grant, and aimed a blow at him. Then
he was gone, swallowed In the ruck.
Our mad onrush swept them back,
helpless, demoralized. stumbled over
bodies, slipped In pools Of blood, yet
kept my feet Every muscle ached;
was cut and pounded. yet drove into
the mass. shouting to those behind
Come on. ladsl Come onl We're
driving themlT
A yard, two yards, three-beyond
the door where the men had escaped
we won our way. Then they could go
no further. Blocked, unable to retreat.
wedged helplessly against the far end
Of the hall they turned like cornered
rats. could see nothing Of Jones,
but heard him. raging like fend.
Now, you curs, now!" he stormed.
you cowardly scum perhaps you'll
fight when you can't runl What are
you afraid Of? There's only handful,
you can chew EN- up, II you viii! Push
EN- back. theroI Push 'em backI"
With a yell Of rage. those crushed
against the wall hurtled forward, driY-
ing the others; men were lifted and
hurled at us; others gripped at our
feet; by sheer force Of numbers they
swept us backward. It was hand to
hand. neither side having time to re-
load their weapons The smoke rose,
permitting view OF the shambIes.
There was tangle Of arms, tumble
Of faces. They were maddened Deasta.
desperate, revengeful. Hands cIutched
at us, gun butts were thrust into our
faces, the crush too dense to permit
Of their being swung overhead. MY
Dragons had their sabres out, and
stood to 1t like men, the steel blades
dripping as they tasted blood. But
killing one only brought new man to
the front. One does not see 50 much
as feel in such tumble. Yet / knew
we were worsted, outnumbered. They
came ct US like battering ram. !
saw the sergeant shot through the
foreheads saw Eric 80 down beneath
crushing stroke, and roll under my
feet ! stepped on bodies, lighting for
my own life as never fought before
Somewhere ! had gripped gun out Of
dead fingers and swung 1t savageIy,
smashing the stock at the first blow,
but retaining the twisted iron. The
intensity Of excitement seemed to
clear my brain. began to distinguish
voices, TO notice faces. I heard Grant
yell safely in the rear; heard Jones'
roar, $40 hell with emil To hell with
'emI" Out of the murk Of struggling
figures made out his black beard,
the CLEAN of yellow fangs, and leaped
toward him, striking men down until
was able to swing at his head. He
went over like a stricken OK under
butchers ak, knocking aside two men
as he fell 1t gave me chance to
spring out Of the melee.
ITO the stairs, meni The stairsl"
/ cried. ~We can hold them therel"
cannot describe now how we made
II, but we did only know Tom and
Y held the rear, sweeping circles Of
6aath with our whirling gun-barrels,
failing back step BY step as we fought.
AT last / felt the bottom stairs with
my foot, and heard voice shout.
@Come up, siri Wen hold EN- nowl"
Then was above the heads OF the
mob, gripping the ran. and sobbing for
breath. There followed moments
wait, an instant Of hesitancy. began
to see and feel once more Below US
the hall was 1ammed with men, 60
closely pressed together as to be al
most helpless. Blood streamed from q
cut In my forehead, nearly binding
me, but wiped 1t away, and took one
glance at their angry upturned faces,
and gained a glimpse Of my own men.
There were but six Of us, and one of
these lay helpless dropped against the
wall. Tom and stood alone, his face
blackened by powder, his shirt ripped
into rags; the other three were above.
pistols In hand.
@Are they loaded3~ I gasped
Yes, sir,
"stand ready then, bat look out for
aboveg there YES E guard uD there
Tom"
He Turned his face siightiy.
@Move back 9 step or two noreG
we've got to hold thems
~All right, sir"
felt weak from loss OF blood, my
head Keeling, and had to hold to the
raj, Below us, growing Ike wild
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