The Washburn leader., 1915-08-20
By F. A. mitchell

for the muzzle of cannon, which
would sweep the street, doubtless, with
the scattering projectiles Of the period.
That meant that before force of
eighty men-the number under the cap
tain's command-could reach the barri-
cade large proportion Of them would
be killed or wounded.
The captain called his first lieuten-
ant handed him his glass, directed him
to take look at the breastworks and
then asked him what he thought about
an attempt to carry them. The lieuten-
ant examined the works. then, lower
ing his glass, remarked:
what are the ORDERS captain?"
1.-THE orders are to move forward"
'"Then we must move forward, but
those who live will have moved back
ward"
The captains only response was an
order to advance. H..
Shoulder to shoulder, the men march
ed on-for, as has been said, they could
not scatter-till about third Of the
distance had been traversed. Then a
pun Of smoke issued from the dark
spot in the center of the works, and a
storm Of missiles broke upon the ad-
vancing line of Germans. A third of
the company fell, and another dozen
limped or staggered to the rear.
The rest pressed on, but few min
utes were lost in reforming, or, rather.
closing, the gaps that had been made.
With steady step they marched till
they had covered half the distance be-
tween their starting point and the fort.
There was light where the dark spot
had been. and they knew that the
piece had been retired to be reloaded
This gave them courage. 1t was an
old fashioned muzzle loader, and time
must be spent after every discharge
in reloading. The captain gave the
order to double quick, but before they
had covered d dozen yards there came
another hailstorm. and another twenty
men were put out Of the fight
i. This was terrible slaughter. and
the force recoiled. Some stood ready
to retrace their steps; others started
back. The second lieutenant stood In
rear and. striking some of the fugitives
with his sword. drove them back to-
ward the enemy. The captain was
among the wounded and lay In a pool
of his own blood. The first lieutenant
cried at the top Of his voice Forward.
men!' and started at the head Of some
thirty soldiers to make the rest Of the
distance and storm the fort. though
the move was now a forlorn hope. for
he expected that on reaching it he
would find it defended by double the
number Of those who were making the
attack.
When within fifty yards Of the bar
ricade there came another storm OF
missiles. Half the Germans were laid
on the stones of the street, while the
other half broke and fed. The lieu
tenant called to them in vain. Prefer
ring death to following them in flight,
he turned and ran forward to the fort,
expecting every moment to be shot
down. He reached the barricade and.
with pistol in one hand, his sword
in the other, climbed to the summit.
There he stood, bewildered by the sight
that met his view. ..
Not a man was behinoJ the stones.
The gun which the recoil from the last
shot had driven backward few feet
was there, a thin film Of smoke issuing
from its vent. Leaning against It was
a girl about twenty years old. She
looked up at the lieutenant as though
expecting instant death. Involuntarily
he uncovered.
"Mademoiselle.'' he stammered In
broken French, "where are the men
who have been defending this barri-.
cade?" ~.
II have been defending this barri-,
cade, monsieur" was the reply.
"You-al0ne?"
"I-alone. Through a blunder the
force that was to have held this work
was ordered elsewhere"
"Mein Gott! Has q whole company
been driven back by a-a girl?'
At this moment company Of French
soldiers came around corner at dou-
BILE quick. The lieutenant succeeded
in making good retreat, hearing
cheers behind him:
"Vive mademoisellev'
Having Joined his commander, he led
them again to the attack and finally
captured the barricade. He looked
for the girl who had defends,d It alone.
but she was not there.
u t s Y .. .. El I ff -