Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-09-11

self just in time to be missed by a
missile giving that sound which is mu-
steal when heard far up in the air, but
terrible when its song is sung close to
the ear.
One day an officer ordered Alexis to
another part of the fortress, and the
sharpshooter refused to leave Old Mich
olas and big Ivan. The officer ordered
Alexis under arrest. As he was being
marched away the commander Of the
Malakoff came by-he was constantly
going from point to point superintend-
ing the f%rlng-and. seeing what had
occurred. stopped and inquired the
cause.
THE man Is needed at a bastion
where the French sharpshooters are
picking off our men" was the reply.
WELL" replied the commander. You
will have to find some one else. This
man IS needed here"
So Alexis remained with his two
companions. old Nicholas and big Ivan.
and after several other attempts had
been made by other officers ut various
times to detach him had failed those
who made them began to wonder why
it was that the general would not per-
NIT Alexis to be taken for any other
duty. One whose attempt had been thus
interfered with asserted that it was
because Old Nicholas was doing more
damage than any gun in the fortress.
Old Nicholas would be useless without
Tpo. aud Ivan xxrot1ld nhf Ifun a HQU
unprotected by Alexis. But, singularly
enough, this was considered not to be
the only reason why Alexis could not
be taken away from his post.
One day when the general was not
near an officer carried Alexis away to
another part of the Malakoff and fore
ed him to pick off some Turks who
had silenced a gun by killing every
gunner who attempted to serve it.
Alexis rid the Russians of this pesti-
lential nest and was permitted to re
turn to the big gun. He found the
gun cold and the gunner lying dead
under it
Alexis at the sight gasped, dropped
his rifle and caught at the supports of
the gun. Then he bent down and, put
ting his arms about his friend, moaned
in agony.
There was no trouble after that in
getting Alexis to go to any point where
his services were required. He had
but one object-to kill as many as pos
sible of those who had killed Ivan.
Whatever they were, English, French
or Turks, made no difference to him.
He slew them wherever he could catch
sight of them. And after Ivan's death
he began to keep count of the number
he killed. Every time he sent a bullet
into a vital part of an enemy he would
put his hat on the end of his rifle. hold
it up above the works and get a hole
in it.
The siege went on. the allies con-
stantly working nearer. The nearer
they came the more of them fell under
Alexis bullets, for, being nearer, they
were more easily distinguished. They
were preparing for the final scene in
the struggle, the storming of the Mala-
koff, and were too intent upon their
work to take much care of their per-
sons.
When a number of the allies had
beer killed at a single point sharp
shooters would be ordered to observe
whence the fire came and stop it.
But Alexis was quick to see that his
work had been noticed, for he was ac-
customed to keep continually feeling
of his enemies by exposing some arti-
Gle to draw their fire. As soon as he
held an article up on the muzzle Of
his rifle and a hole was made in it he
knew it was time to go elsewhere.
IS the siege proceeded the holes in
Alexis hat became very thick. When
those whom be Joined began to make
comments upon his headgear.
at would make a good lantern"
said one. "Why don't you put a can
die in it?'
what will you do when it is all shot
away?" cried another.
mo danger of your head getting too
hot said a third.
Alexis never noticed these remarks.
Indeed, there was a seriousness, a sad
ness about him that. SO soon as the
others noticed it. caused them to re-
frain from any further comment.
AT last when the allies had approach
ed neal enough for their purpose and
had finished their mining operations
they blew up the walls and stormed
the Malakoff. The garrison surrender
ed and the men marched out as pris-
oners of war. Among those who were
in line was a in the dress OF
a Russian peasant. Perhaps in her
changed dress she might not have been
recognized had it not been for her sad
face and hat full of bullet holes she
carried in her hand. A crowd of her
former companions gathered about her
wonderingly.
"Who was the big gunner?" was the
fret ouocfiOn