The state herald., 1914-11-27

emphasized by the discharge OF
dozen guns. Then out Of the smoke,
springing forth into the open. l saw
the devils como. It was as II hell had
broken open and belched them forth.
"Shawneesr roared Brady. Give
It to 'eml" and he pulled trigger.
Describe what followed no man
could. It was pandemonium, uproar.
action, no two seconds the same. l
fired twice. three times. leaping back
, to grasp a gun from the bench, and
cropping my way through smoke. Ny
eyes smarted, perspiration streamed
down my face. l heard the bark OF
rifles, voices calling within. wild echo
ing yells without. Over the barrel Of
my rife could distinguish the naked
forms Of savages lsaping amid the
smoke wreaths. stumbling. clutching
at the air with empty hands. Then all
at once they disappeared. vanished as
II by magic. Smoke chung to the
ground. yet amid its swirls l could
perceive no movement; the fierce yell
ing ceased. What this sudden cessa-
hand reached instinctively for powder
and ball. Then another yell, louder,
more deadly with ferocity, smote my
ears; bullets chugged into the logs,
some one near me gave utterance to a
roar OF pain, and blows crashed
against the barred door. / thrust my
rife forward-a tomahawk struck the
protruding barrel as pulled trigger.
and was flung backward to the floor.
blood streaming from my shoulder.
could hardly breathe In the thick
smoke; could see nothing. yet out of
the babel OF noise was conscious OF
Brady's voice yelling an order:
The door! Barricade the door!"
staggered to my feet and dragged
the bench forward: some one gripped
the table along with me. and together
we hurled It on top our bodies holding
1t there. ! had dropped my rife. but
some one thrust another into my hand.
Blood streamed down into my eyes
from a cut on my forehead. binding
me SO ! saw nothing. yet my fingers
touched hand. Even thon felt the
thrill OF that contact.
You. Renei Go backi For Gods
sake, go back!" l sobbed breathlessly.
Just an instant she grasped me.
clung to me, her head pressing against
my sleeve.
Yes. monsieur"
Then she was gone: I reached out
for her. but she was no longer there.
Tomahawks crashed into tho wood OF
the door: there was . sound OF splin-
terins. Brady ripped out an oath.
Wild yell OF triumph echoed without.
Through nearby loop-hole some saw.
hge thrust his gun. and fired blindly.
the sudden dash lighting the murk. In
the instant red glow l caught
glimpse OF the lnterior-of body ly.
Ing before the fireplace. of Schultz still
on his knees. rife in hand. OF Brady
gripping an AZ. his head bare. a ghast.
ly wound on tho side OF his face Then
the smoke hid all.
Something crashed against the door.
shaking the whole cabin. again and
again the blow fell. the tough wood
Ing. yet swapping back once more M
the sockets held. Amid the din OF
shouts. the crash OF wood, my eyes
met Bradys.
You re hurtl"
"Ay!" splitting out blood before he
could answer. Jaw shot"
The door crashed In. the great butt
OF tree coming with II. and half
blocking the passage. All that re-
mAined Wa instantly nlled with sav.
age figures. Into the mass OF them |
nred my last shot. the name OF dis.
charge soaring the hideous faces
Then | was hurled TO the right, shoul.
der to shoulder with Schultz, gripping
my gun barrel with both hands. swing.
Ing II like nail. l crushed tho skull
OF q savage. drove the butt into the
face OF another. saw the fash OF n
tomahawk. held up for an instant the
soldiers reeling body, only to throw Il
aside. smashed the red hand held
out TO grip him m he went down, drew
back n stop In search OF NOR. room.
and, with one mighty sweep OF my
weapon cleared circle before me.
God II was CHASTITY. inhuman, devil.
irhl Those behind pushed and yelled;
there was no cscapei I saw painted
faecr. naked shoulders; Wild eyes
glarcd hatred into mine. tomahawk
and knife flashed. The butt OF my gun
smashed. gripped the iron. my teeth
clinehed. and blood ON fro. had no
aensa OF fear LEFT. no consciousness OF
peril. ! wanted to strike. to XIII, TO
bruisc those hideous faces. to batter
them into pulp The rage OF conflict
seized me: there swept over mo tho
ferooity OF the insane
gave back. compelled BY tho mor,
force OF numbers hurled against me.
yet kept clear space no savage loft
uhhurt. felt IN my arms the strength
OF doSon men. and not tho grip OF a
rcd hand reached mo. The nondu
tnarled and struggled. but tho fierce
swing OF tho iron bar crushed them
back. i, was twilight where stood Al
bay. the narrow opening. almort blot.