Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-08-08

heard Jones' below Oh c0HlhaHu, anu
Grants nasal voice profanely ordering
them to come on. With us there re-
NAMED no choice; we must fight 1t
out where we were, regardless Of num-
bers.
"Fire! you damned fools-fre"
roared Jones, and there was crash.
ing of guns, the dense smoke swirling
between us. A Dragon at my right
went sprawling; another behind gave
vent to q yell as he plunged head first
down the basement stairs. There was
the sound Of splintering wood, OF
breaking glass. felt the blood in my
veins leap to the fever Of it,
We were upon the fellows with
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 fight In,
shoulder to shoulder, but those be-
hind, eager to strike also. pressed up
SO recklessly that we hurled them
back. To me 1t 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-barrels whirled
before me, flashes Of fire burned my
eyes, strange features, bearded, malig-
nant, glared at me. leaped straight
at them, striking fiercely. Once / saw
Grant, and aimed 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; l
was cut and pounded, yet drove into
the mass, shouting to those behind:
Come on, lads! Come on! We're
driving them!"
A yard, two yards, three-beyond
the door where the men had escaped
we won our way, Then they could 60
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 fiend.
Now, you ours, nowp he stormed
you cowardly scum-perhaps you'll
fight when you can't rum What are
you afraid Of? There's only handful,
you can chew 'em up, If you will Push
em back, there! Push 'em back!"
| With yell Of rage, those crushed
against the wall hurtled forward, driy-
ing the others; men were lifted and
hurled at us; others grlpped at our
feet; by sheer force of numbers they
swept us backward. 1t was hand to
hand. neither side having time to re-
load their weapons. The smoke rose
permitting view of the shambles
There was tangle of arms. q tumble
Of faces. They were maddened beasts
desperate, revengeful. Hands clutched
at us, gun butts were thrust into our
faces, the crush too dense to permit
Of their being swung overhead. Ny
Dragons had their sabres out, ant
stood to 1t like men, the steel blades
dripping as they tasted blood. But
killing one only brought new man t.
the front. One does not see so much
as feel in such tumble. Yet | knew
: we were worsted. outnumbered. They
came at us like a batterigg ram.
: saw the sergeant shot through tn,
: forehead; ! saw Eric go down beneath
a crushing stroke. and roll1under m,
feet. l stepped on bodies, lighting 70
my own life as never fought before
Somewhere / had gripped gun out o
t dead fingers and swung 1t savagely
smashing the stock at the first blow
r but retaining the twisted iron. TIL
I intensity OF excitement seemed t
clear my brain. began to distinguish
! voices, to notice faces. heard Gran
yell safely in the rear: | heard Jones
roar, ITO hell with EN-! To he'll wit
em!" Out OF the murk Of strugglin
figures | made out his black beart
the CLEAN of yellow fangs. and leape
toward him, striking men down unit
| was able to swing at his head. il
went over like a stricken OK under
butchers ak. knocking aside two me
as he fell. 1t gave me chance I
spring out Of the melee.
ITO the stairs. menl The stairsl
| cried. 1--WE can hold them there
cannot describe now how we mad
It, but we did. only know Tom an
held the rear. sweeping circles {
death with our whirllng gun-barrel
falling back step by step as we Tough
At last l felt the bottom stairs wit
my foot, and heard voice shout:
Come up, sir! Wen hold 'em now
Then was above the heads of Ii
mob, gripping the rail. and sobbing Il
breath. There followed a moment
a wait, an instant of hesitancy. bega
a to see and feel once more Below
q the hall was jammed with men.
closely pressed together as to be .
most helpless. Blood streamed from
ID cut In my forehead, nearly blndir
i. me, but wipedit away. and took OF
70 glance at their angry upturned face
q and gained glimpse OF my own me
ID There were but six Of us, and one
r, these lay helpless propped against Il
lg wall Tom and stood alone, his ia
Of blackened' by powder. his shirt ripp,
Of into rags; the other three were aboy
n, pistols In hand.
m "Are they loaded?" gasped.
Eyes, sir"
"Stand ready then, but look out Z
above; there was q guard up there
Tom"
He turned his face slightly.
70 Move back step or two NOR,
as we've got to hold them"
OF "All right, sir"
"a felt weak from loss of blood. n
IN head Keeling, and had to hold to Il
ID rail. Below us. growing like wi
IT. beasts, but seemingly leaderless, Il
ne mob crushed forward to the foot
~ the stairs. Suddenly saw Grant, al
ie the sight Of him gave me new life.