Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-09-22
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BY
FREDERICK PALMER
(Copyrieht, i9iI By Charles scribner's son0


(Copyrieht, 1914 By Charles Scrlbner's sona
Suddenly, as by command, tho fire
erom the base of the knoll ceased alto
gether. Dellarme understood at once
what this meant-the next step in the
course of a systematic, irresistible ap-
proach by superior numbers. 1t was
30 allow the ground scouts to advance.
Individual gray spots detacbing them
selves from the gray streak Hegan to
crawl upward in search of deLd spaces
where the contour of the grohnd would
Furnish some protection from the
blaze of bullets from the drest.
"Over their heads! Don't try to hit
Eheml" Dellarme passed the word.
That's it! Spare one to get
nozenl" said Stransky, grinning in
ready comprehension. He seemed to
be grinning every time that Dellsrme
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 themI"
Dellarme commanded.
After they had advanced two or
three hundred yards they stopped,
shoulders and hands exposed in silhou.
Iette, and began to work feverishly
with their spades.
"Oh, beautiful" cried Stransky.
THAT baby captain of ours has some
brains. after all! Well get them now
and we'll get them when they runi"
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 a few minutes they had dropped
spades for rifles, and other sections
either crawled or ran forward pre-
cipitately and fell to the task of join
ing the isolated beginnings into a
single trench.
Again Dellarme looked toward regi-
mental headquarters, his fixed, CHEEKY
smile not wholly masking the appeal
dn 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
icy 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 if there were 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 were crouching too much for
effective aim.
See that you fire low! Keep your
heads up!" he called. For your
homes. your country and your God!
Pass the word along!"
Parched throat after parched throat
repeated the message hoarsely and
leaden shoulders raised a trifle and
dust-matted eyelashes narrowed sharp
ly on the sights.
For the man in us!" 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 homesl For the man in
us!" they repeated, swallowing the
words as If they had the taste of a
istimulant.
But Dellarme knew that it would
mot take much to precipitate a break.
He himself felt that he had been on
that knoll half lifetime. He looked
at his watch and it was five o'clock.
For seven hours they had held on.
The Grays' trench was complete the
breadth OF the slope; more reserves
were coming up. The brigade com
mander of the Grays was going to
make sure that the next charge sue.
ceeded.
At last Dellarme's glance toward
regimental headquarters showed the
flag that was the signal for with.
drawal. Could he accomplish It? The
first lieutenant, with a shattered arm,
had gone on litter. The old ser.
geant was dead, a victim of the colo
nial wars. Used to fighting savage en-.
'emies, he had been too eager in ex.
posing himself to a civilized foe He
had been shot through the throat.
Men of the first section" Dellarme
called, you will slip out Of line with
the greatest care not to let the enemy
know that you are going!"
"Going-going! CAREFUL Men Of
the first section going!" the parched
throats repeated in thrilling whisper.
Those who remain keep increasing
their 1re!" called Dellarme again.
Cover the whole breadth of the
krench!"
Every fourth man wormed himself
backward on his stomach until he was
below the skyline. when his stiffened
aimbB brought him to his feet and he
started on dead run down into the