The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-10-30
CHAPTER XII.
At the GalIand House.

Every unit engrossed in his own
work! Every man taught how weak
link may break chain and realizing
himself as link and only link! The
captain of engineers forgot Martas ex-
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 rif1emen. 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, diyi-
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
- - 70 a fo
targets of the reserves advancing by
rushes to the support of the 12Sth.
Reinforced the gray streak at the bot
tom of the slope poured in heavier
fire. Above the steady Hrackle 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
sky put it back on the mans head
and the example was followed in Other
cases. 1t was a good idea to keep III
a 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. Dellarme understood at once
what this meantime next step in thu
course of a systematic, irresistible ap
proach by superior numbers. 1t wal
to allow the ground scouts to advance
Individual gray spots detaching them
selves from the gray streak began t.
crawl upward in search of dead spaces
where the contour of the ground woult
furnish some protection from tn
blaze of bullets from the crest.
"Over their heads! Don't try to hi
them!" Dellarme passed the word.
That's it! Spare one to get
dozen!" said Stransky, grinning i
ready comprehension. He seemed t
be grinning every time that Dellarm
looked in that direction. He wa
plainly enjoying himself. His restles
nature had found sport to its taste.
The creeping scouts must have sil
nailed back good news, for groups b
gan crawling slowly after them.
"Qver their heads! Encourage them!
Dellarme commanded.
After they had advanced two c
three hundred yards they stoppet
shoulders and hands exposed in silhol
cite, and began to work feVerishl
with their spades.
"Oh, beautiful" cried Stransk,
THAT baby captain of ours has som
brains, after all! Wen get them no
and wen get them when they run!"
But they did not run. Unfalteringl
they took their punishment while the
turned over the protecting sod in Ii
midst OF their own dead and wounde
In a few minutes they had droppe