The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-11-28


eesh" above every other sound in a
long wall No man ever forgets the
first crack OF shrapnel at close quar-
ters. the first bullet breath on his
cheek. or the first supporting shell
from his side in fight that passes
above him
THAT is ours" called Dellarme.
Ours" shouted the sergeant
Ours" sang the thought OF every
one OF them.
Over the Gray batteries on the plain
an explosive ball of smoke hung in
the still air; then another beside IT,.
"Thureesh - thur-eesh - thur-eesh, !"
the screaming overhead became gale
that built a cloud OF blue smoke over
the offending Gray batteries beauti-
full. soft blue smoke from which a
spray OF steel descended There was
no spotting the flashes OF the Browns
guns in order to reply TO them, for
they were under the cover OF n hill,
using indirect aim as nicely and ac'
curately as If firing pointblank. The
not go on with their work under such
a hail-storm; they were checkmated,
They stopped firing and began moving
10 a new position. where their com
mander hoped 10 remain undiscovered
long enough to support the 12Sth by
loosing his lightnings against the de-
tenders at the critical moment of the
next charge, which would be made as
soon as Fracasse's men had been rein
forced.
There was an end to tho concus-
sions and the thrashing OF the air
around Dellarme's men. and they had
the relief OF a breaking abscess in tho
ear. But they became more conscious
OF the splits Of dust I'm front OF their
faces and tho passing whistles OF bull
let's, In return. they made the Sec
tons OF Gray infantry In reserve rush
ing across the levels, leave many gray
Jumps behind But Fracasse's men at
the foot OF the slope poured In heav-
Ter and still heavier fire.
Down there's where we need the
shells now!" spoke the thought OF Del
larme's men, which he had anticipated
by a word TO the signal corporal, who
waved his flag one-two-three-f
five times. Come on, now, with
more of your special brand OF death,
officer! Your own head is
above the skyline. though your guns
are hidden. Five hundred yards be-
yond the knoll is the range! Come
on!
He came with burst OF screams so
low in flight that they seemed to
brush the back OF the mems necks
with a hair broom at the rate OF a
thousand feet a second Having
the result, Dellarme turned
with a contlrmatory gesture, which tho
corporal translated into the wigwag
Of Correct" The shrapnel smoke
hanging over Fracasse's men appeared
4 heavenly blue to Dellarme's men.
They are going 10 start for us
soon! oh, but Wen get lot OF
-hem!" whispered stransty gleefully
10 his rife.
Dellarme glanced again toward the
station. No sign of the re-
iring flag. He was glad OF that. He |
lid not want to fall back In face OF !
/ charge; TO have his men silhouetted |
n the valley as they retreated. And |
he Grays would not endure this show
'r-bath long without going one way or
he other. He gave the order to fix |
,ayonets, and hardly was Il obeyed |
when he saw flashes OF steel through |
he shrapnel smoke as tho Grays fixed |
heirs. The Grays had 500 yards 10
TO- the Browns had the time that Il |
axes running men TO cover the dis
ance in which to stop the Grays.
Well spear any OF them who has
he luck 10 get this fart" whispered
'transky 10 his rife. The sentence
vas spoken in the midst OF salvo OF
hrapnel cracks. which he did not
ear. He heard nothing, thought moth
ng, except TO kill.
The Gray batteries ON the plain,
aving taken up n new position and
eing reinforced, played on the crest
{ top speed instantly the Gray line
ose and started up the slope at the
IN. With the purpose OF confusing
o less than killing, they used percus-
lon, which burst on striking the
round, as well as shrapnel, which
urst by time.fuse In the air. Foun.
lins OF sod and dirt shot upward TO
leet descending sprays OF bullets. The
Dncussions OF the earth shook the
I'm OF Dellarme's men, blinded by
noke and dust, as they fired through
fog at bent figures whose legs were
JUMPING fast in dim pantomime.
But the guns OF the Browns, also,
ave word that the charge has begun.
he signal corporal is waiting for the
'sture from Dellarme agreed upon al
announcement. The Brown artil-
ny commander cuts his fuses two ,,
indred and fifty yards shorter. lie,
10, uses percussion for moral effect.
Half of the Distance frnrn tba foot =