The evening world., 1915-02-20

falling bodies, the disfiguring blood
stains. the savags CLINT Of steel.
Those who came first were not SOL
were Cowan's men; gaunt.
rough fellows. bearded and dirty.
their fierce curses sounding above the
uproar. And they fought like hends.
driven by Cowan's voice, and pressed
remorselessly forward by the cavalry
men behind. I saw him once, q blood
spot on Nhis cheek. and fired over the
heads Of those between us, hut though
he fell. he came to his feet again and
was Ewept to one side by the rush OF
mem l saw all this. and no more; IL
was Ike a flash on. the screen-and
blur.
narrow doorways. each man fighting
for life. I used gun and revolver.
fist and sock; knew not who stood,
who fell; In the red mist before me
were black shapes, hateful faces, and
i struck to kill. Twice lost foot and
fell. but was up again, fronting them.
I stepped on dead bodies, slipped in
pools OF blood: falling men caused me
to stagger: a slug of lead tore burn
ing through my shoulder; a glanclng
knife blade ripped my forearm. !
had no time, no room. In which TO re-
load: my hands gripped the hot cor
bine barrel. and l swung the stock
like. q fail.
1t was stifiing-I could hardly
breathe: the room choked with
smoke our bodies reekins with
sweat. A gripping hand ripped my
and I jabbed my carbine barrel into
the bearded face. Yet we could not
hosd: could not stand against that
torrent-there were not enough OF ".
Inch by inch they won through the
door; we could kill. but not stop
them. and thSy hurled us back.
stumbling over the dead, clambering
across overturned benches, but I'M
able to stem the increasing tide.
We were all together now-Har-
wood. Wharton, O'Hare-the sole
handful left. and we made a hght
of II, the best we could. There was
a moments pause, the merest instant
In which to breathe, and my eyes met
Harwood's. He was naked TO the
waist hatiess. blood dripping from q
cut over one eye, the stock Of his
carbins shattered.
Forward, men! forward" 1t was
Fox's voice. although / saw nothing
of him. "once more. and it's over
with--forward!"
Now. lads. meet them!" burst out
HARDWOOD. about me. Third Ken
tucky--here they comet"
They drove US In so as 70 encircie
us. vet the tumble of benches served
as some protection to our rear. Per
haps the fact that there were yam
KEGS between us and the pulpit pre-
vented nring: for we met hand u
hand In a death grapple. l have seeI
battles. yet nothing like that; It wa
as though beasts Of tho jungle fought
men struggled with naked hands
struck death blows. fred into eacl
. others faces. trampled over .wrtthint
bodies. cursing or yelling defiance q
We scarcely knew friend from foe
blue from gray. I cannot even tel
GREATNESS moments, know Tough
madly. blindIy--again and agaii
sweeping a space clear with m!
weapon: hands gripped my throat. my
hair, and tore loose; fingers clutche,
at my legs. but ! kicked free. I wa
conscious OF blows. Of wounds;
knew when HARDWOOD fell. and va
trampled under foot; ] heard OHar
scream, i'saw the hated face Of Ans
Cowan In the ruck and lesped 10
him. but who my mad blow struck
could not tell. Some rush. some quicl
pressure Of bodies. hurled me side
wise. caught me In a wise: I trippe,
over . dead man and staggered 4
my feet again.
got footing on the pulpit plat
form and held II for an Instant m
gun-barrel crashing into the mass 0
faces below. Wharton Joined ms.
d bpll mad With rage; I saw him rem
the pulpit stand from The eoer q