Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-12-25
CHAPTER xl.
At the oaIIand House.

istence as an error of his subordinates
caught his eye, and he went TO caution
the axmen to cut closer to the ground,
as stumps gave cover for riflemen. For
the time being he had no more interest
in the knoll than in the wreckage of
the dirigibles which were down and
out of the fight.
After all. the knoll was only single
point on the vast staff map-only one
of many points of a struggle whose
progress was bulletined through the
siftings of regimental, brigade, divi-
sion and corps headquarters in net re-
suits to the staff Partow and Lam
stron overlooked all. Their knowledge
made the vast map live under their
eyes. But our concern is with the
story of two regiments, and particu-
larly of two companies, and that is
story enough. If 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 off 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
rushes to the support of the 128th.
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-
ceived rose the cry of Doctor! Doc
tori" which meant each time that an
other Brown rife had been silenced.
The litter bearers, hard pressed to re-
move the wounded, left the dead. AL
ready death was familiar sight-an
article of exchange in which Del
larme's men dealt freely. The man
at Stransky's side had been killed out
! right. He lay face down on his rifle
, stock. His cap had fallen off. Stran-
SLY put it back on the mans head,
and the example was followed in other
cases. 1t was a good idea to keep up
a show of full line of caps to the
enemy.
Suddenly, as by command, the fire
| from 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
to allow the ground scouts to advance.
| Individual gray spots detaching them
selves from the gray streak began to
| crawl upward in search of dead spaces
where the contour of the ground would
furnish some protection from the
blaze Of bullets from the crest.
over their heads Don't try to hit
them!" Dellarme passed the word.
That's It'll Spare one to get a
dozen!" 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.
ooh, beautiful" cried Stransky
THAT baby captain of ours has some
brains, after all! Well get them now
and we'll 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 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 6
single trench.
Again Dellarme looked toward regi
mental headquarters, his fixed, CHEEKY
smile not wholly masking the appea
in his eyes. The Grays had only two
or three hundred yards to go wher
they should make their next charge il
order to reach the crest. But his mer
had fifteen hundred to go in the val
ley before they were out of range
After their brave resistance facing thu
enemy they would receive a hail O.
bullets in their backs. This was thu
time to withdraw If there were to b,
assurance of a safe retreat. But there
was no signal. Until there was, hi
must remain.
The trench grew; the day wore on
Two rifles to one were now playinl
against his devoted company, which
had had neither food nor drink sine,
early morning. AS he scanned hi
thinning line he saw look of blood
lessness and hopelessness gatherin,
; on the set faces of which he had grow
so fond during this ordeal. Some o
the men were crouching too much TO
effective aim.
, See that you fire low! Keep you