The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-10-23


Of artillery, each firing six 14-poundi
shells a minute methodically, every
shell loaded with nearly two hundred
protectiles, were giving their undivtdl
ed attention to the knoll.
How long could his company endure
this! Dellarme might well ask. He
knew that he would not be expected
to withdraw yet. With a sense of re-
lief he saw Fracasse's men drop for
cover at the base of the knoll and
then, expectation fulfilled, he realized
that rife-fre now reinforced the enc
my's shell fire. His duty was to re-
main while he could hold his men,
and feeling toward them such as he
had never felt before, which was love,
sprang full-fedged into his heart as he
saw how steadily they kept up their
fusillade.
Stransky, eager in response to a
new passion, sprang forward into
place and picked up his rife.
III you will not have 1t my way,
take 1t yours!" said the best shot in
the company, as he began firing with
resolute GOODNESS.
They have lot of men down." said
Dellarme, his glasses showing the
many PROSTATE figures on the wheat
stubble. STEADY! steady! We have
plenty of batteries back in the hills.
One will be in action soon"
But would one? He understood
that with their smokeless powder the
Gray guns could be located only by
their flashes, which would not be Wis
ible unless the refraction of light we're
favorable. Then "thur-eesh-thur-
eesh" above every other sound in
long wall! No man ever forgets the
first crack Of a shrapnel at close quar-
ters, the first bullet breath on his
cheek, or the first supporting shell
from his side in fight that passes
above him.
THAT is ours!" called Dellarme.
"Ours!" shouted the sergeant.
"ours!" sang the thought of every
one Of them.
Over the Gray batteries on the plain
an explosive ban of smoke hung in
the still air; then another beside 1t.
''Thur-eesh - thnreesh - thur-eesh,"
the screaming overhead became a gale
that built cloud of blue smoke over
the offending Gray batteries-beauti-
| full, soft blue smoke from which a
spray Of steel descended. There was
no spotting the flashes Of the Browns
guns in order to reply to them, for
they were under the cover of a hill,
using indirect aim as nicely and &C.
curately as If firing pointblank The
gunners Of the Gray batteries could
not go on with their work under such
a hail-storm; they were checkmated,
They stopped firing and began moving
to new position, where their com.
mander hoped to remain undiscovered
long enough to support the 12Sth by
loosing his lightnings against the de-
tenders at the critical moment of the
next charge, which would be made as
soon as Eracassefs men had been rein
forced.
There was an end to the concus-
sions and the thrashing of the air
around Deflarme's men, and they had
the relief of breaking abscess in the
ear. But they became more conscious
Of the spits Of dust in front of their
faces and the passing whistles Of bull
let's. In return, they made the Sec
tons Of Gray infantry in reserve rush
ing across the levels, leave many gray
Jumps behind. But F'racasse's men at
the foot Of the slope poured in abheav-
Ter and still heavier fire.
''Down there's where we need the
shells now!" spoke,the thought of Del
larme's men, which he had anticipated
by word to the signal corporal, who
waved his flag one-two-three-four
five times. Come on, now, with
more Of your special brand of death,
fre-control ofhcerl Your own head Is
above the skyline, though your guns
are hidden. FIVE hundred yards be-
yond thea knoll lis the range! Come
onl
He came'withsa burst, of screams so
low In flight that they seemed to
brush the back Of the mems necks
with a hair broom at the rate of a
thousand feet Q second. Having
watched the result, Dellarme turned
with cqnfirmatory gesture, which the
corporal translated into the wigwag
Of Corr ect!" The shrapnel smoke
hanging over Fracasse's men appeared
a heaven y blue to Dellarme's men.
They are going to start for US
soon! ph, but Wen get a lot of
theml" whispered Stransky gleefully
to his rifle.
Dellarine glanced again toward the
colonels' station. No sign Of the re-
firing flag. He was glad of that. He
did not want to fall back in face of
a charget; to have his men silhouetted
IN the vs1ley as they retreated. And
the Grayts would mot endure this show
er-bath hong without going one way or
the other. He gave the order to fix
baNonetsL and hardly was it obeyed
q. A. "a