Eastern Colorado times., 1912-12-06

dim light For an instant, congested
within the limits Of the hallway. both
sides paused. staring at each other in
mutual surprise and hesitation. Then
heard Jones' below Of command, and
Grants nasal voice profanely ordering
them to come on. With US there re-
mained no choice; we must fight 1t
out where we were. regardless Of num-
bers.
Fire! you damned fools-dre!"
roared Jones, and there was a crash
ing of guns. the dense smoke swirling
between US. A Dragon at my right
went sprawling; another behind gave
vent to 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 1t.
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 it was all confusion. up
roar. deadly fighting. I 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. l 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;
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 go
no further. Blocked. unable to retreat.
wedged helplessly against the far end
oA IuS AoA lhSy Sul uSu llho SOlh GU
rats. could see nothing Of Jones.
but heard him. raging like fiend.
Nov, you ours, now!" he stormed.
"You cowardly scum-perhaps you'll
fight when you can't run! What are
you afraid Of? There's only handful,
you can chew 'em up. II you will! Push
'em back, there! Push 'em back!"
With yell Of rage. those crushed
against the wall hurtled forward. driv-
ing the others; men were lifted and
hurled at US: others gripped at our
swept US backward. It was hand to
hand. neither side having time to re-
load their weapons. The smoke rose.
permitting view of the shambles.
There was a tangle Of arms. a 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 My
Dragons had their sabres out. and
stood to it like men. the steel blades
dripping as they tasted blood But
killing one only brought new man to
the front. One does not gee so much
as feel in such tumble. Yet knew
we were worsted, outnumbered. They
came at US like battering ram.
saw the sergeant shot through the
forehead; saw Eric 60 down beneath
a crushing stroke. and roll under my
feet. l stepped on bodies, fighting for
my own life as never fought before.
Somewhere had gripped gun ou: Of
dead fingers and swung 1t savagely.
smashing the stock at the first blow.
but retaining the twisted iron. The
intensity Of excitement seemed to
clear my brain. began to distinguish