Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-11-18

] etnry Of two regiments. and particu-
larry OF two companies. and that Is
story enough. II you would grasp the
whole. multiply the conflict on the
knoll by ten thousand.
There had been the engrossment
Of transcendent emotion in repelling
the charge. What followed was like
some grim and passionless trance with
triggers ticking OF the slow-passing
minutes. Dellarme aimed to keep
down the fusillade from Fracasse's
+ trench and yet not to neglect the fair
targets OF the reserves advancing by
rusbes to the support Of the l2Sth-
j Reinforced, the gray streak at the bot
tom Of the slope poured in heavier
| FIRE. Above the steady crackle OF bull
lets sent and the whistle of bullets re-
ceiyed rose the cry OF Doctor, Doc
tcr!" which meant each time that an
Jther Brown rife had been silenced.
The litter bearers, hard pressed to re-
move the wounded. left the dead. Al
ready death was a familiar sight-an
article of exchange in which Del
larme's men dealt freely. The man
at Stranskys side had been killed out
right. He lay face down on his rife
stock. His cap had fallen OF. Stran-
sky put 1t back on the mans head.
and the example was followed in other
cases. II was a good idea TO keep up
show OF a full line of caps TO the
enemy.
Suddenly, as by command. the fire
from the base of the knoll ceased alto
gether DeIlarme understood at once
what this u sant-the next step In the
course of Z. systematic, irresistible APP
proach by superior numbers. II was
to allow the ground scouts to advance.
Individual gray spots detaching them
selves from the gray strsak began 10
crawl upward In search Of dead spaces
where the contour OF the ground would
furnish some protection fror the
blaze of bullets from the crest.
over their headsi Don't try to hit
them!" Deliarme passed the word.
That's it, Spare one to get a
dozeni" said Stransky. grinning in
ready comprehension. He seemed to
be grinning every time that Dellarme
looked in that direction. He was
plainly enjoying himself. His restless
nature had found sport to its taste.
The creeping scouts must have sig
nailed back good news. for groups be-
gan crawling slowly after them.
over their heads! Encourage them!"
Dellarme commanded.
After they had advanced two or
three hundred yards they stopped,
shoulders and hands exposed in silhou-
cite, and began to work feverishly
with their spades
"Oh. beautiful" cried Stransky.
THAT baby captain OF ours has some
brains, after ALI! Wen get them now
and well get them when they rum"
But they did not run. Unfalteringly
they took their punishment while they
turned over the protecting sod in the
midst of their own dead and wounded.
In few minutes they had dropped
spades for rifles, and other sections
either crawled or ran forward pre-
cipitately and fell 20 the task OF Join.
ing the isolated beginnings into a
single trench.
Again DelIarme looked toward regi.
mental headquarters, his fixed, CHEEKY
smile not wholly masking the appeal
in his eyes The Grays had only two
or three hundred yards to go when
they should make their next charge In
order to reach the crest. But his men
had fifteen hundred to go In the val
ley before they were out OF range
After their brave resistance facing the
enemy they would receive hail OF
bullets in their backs This was the
time to withdraw il there we're TO be
assurance OF safe retreat. But there
was no signal. Until there was. he
must remain.
The trench grew; the day wore on.
| Two rifles to one were now playing
against his devoted company, which
had had neither food nor drink since
early morning AS he scanned his
thinning line he saw look of blood
lessness and hopelessness gathering
on the set faces Of which he had grown
SO fond during this ordeal Some OF
the men we're crouching too much for
effective aim.
See that you fire lowl Keep your
heads up" ne called For your
homes. your country and your God
Pass the word alongl"
Parehed throat after parched throat
repeated the message hoarsely and
leaden shoulders raised trife and
dust matted eyelashes narrowed sharp
~ on the sights
For the man in u.s." growled Stran
sky For the favor of nature at birth
that gave us the right to wear trou
sers instead of skirts. For the Joy
of hell. give them hell"
For our homes! For the man Ia
u.s." they repeated. swallowing the
words as II they had the taste OF q
stimulant.
But Dellarme knew that it would
not take much to precipitate a break
lie himself felt that he had been on