Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1915-02-03
CHAPTER DISCONTINUED.

iput WOulu one. ne understood
that with their smokeless powder the
Gray guns could be located only by
their flashes, which would not be Wis
ible unless the refraction OF light were
favorable. Then "thur-eesh-thur
eesh" above every other sound in a
long wall! No man ever forgets the
first crack OF Q shrapnel at close quar-.
tiers, 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
Thur-eesh - thur-eesh - thur-eesh, -
the screaming overhead became a gale
that built a cloud of blue smoke over
the offending Gray batteries-beauti-
ful, 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 a hill.
using indirect aim as nicely and ac-
curately as IL firing pointblank The
sunners of the Gray batteries could
not go on with their work under such
hailstorm; they were checkmated.
They stopped firing and began moving
to new position, where their com.
mander hoped to 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 Fracasses men had been rein
forced
There was an end to the concus-
sions and the thrashing OF the air
around Dellarme's men, and they had
the relief Of breaking abscess in the
ear. But they became more conscious
OF the spits OF dust in front Of their
faces and the passing whistles Of bull
lets. In return. they made the Sec
lions CT Gray infantry in reserve rush
ing across the levels, leave many gray
Jumps behind. But Fracasses men at
the foot Of the slope poured in a 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 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,
fre-control 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 fight that they seemed 20
brush the back Of the mems necks
with a hair broom a. the rate OF a
thousand feet a second Having
watched the result, Dellarme turned
with a confrmatory gesture. which the
corporal translated into the wigwag
Of Correct The shrapnel smoke
hanging over Fracasse's men appeared
a heavenly blue 20 Dellarme's men.
They are going 10 start for US
soon. Oh but well get a lot OF
them whispered Stransky gleefury
10 JIG AinEs
Dell3rme glanced again toward the
colonels station. No sign Of the re-
firing flag. lie was glad OF that lie
did not want 20 fall back I'm face of
a charge. to have his men silhouetted
in the valley as they retreated. And
the Grays would not endure this show.
er-bath long without going one way or
the other. lie gave the order 10 fix
bayonets, and hardly was II obeyed
when he saw flashes Of steel through
the shrapnel smoke as the Grays fixed
theirs. The Grays bad 500 yards to
go; the Browns mad the time that II
takes running men 10 cover the dis
lance IN which TO stop he Grays.
Wen spear any Of them who has
the luck 70 get this far" whispered