The Huttig news., 1915-11-27

heard he'll bear watching Ah our friend the major has come to his senses-look wonder! They are nov. ing back out of range"
 "Ay! and concentrating a heavier body of men this way"
 "Of course the first assault will be from the front Tell Wharton to spare me two or three more men, and send couple from your end. They may make rush from all directions, but the real fight will be here; they are going to try us out, that Is certain"
 l walked back to my station. The line of men threatening this end of the building had been drawn aside, out of direct rife range, and seemed to be grouped opposite each corner, and were so closely punched together as to make any estimate of their mum. bers impossible. They were only shapeless shadows, with moonlight g1eaming from their weapons, and an occasional voice breaking the ominous silence. There remained nothing to do but await their action. ready fer whatever might occur. I passed along the wall from man to man, assuring myself each was at his station, with loaded weapon, and well-filled car fridge belt.
 The fight will begin In front I whispered, unable to distinguish faces, and no firing here until I give the word"
 In the darker corner where the pris. 1 wall, my eyes could distinguish noth- ing.
 "Noreen."
 Yes" and she stood up, Couldn't you see me ?''
 Not the faintest shadow I-T wanted to thank you for the choice you made"
 You mean my coming with you! You are glad I did?"
 "Yes, very glad, I said earnestly, flor you are just as safe here. and and I would rather have you near me. This may prove a desperate struggle; we are terribly utnuEbered-and- and, we'll, you know. you-you trusted yourself to me-you are under my pro- tection.s
 There was no answer; perhaps 1 had said too much. Suddenly volley roared out, startling in the stiffness shout of command-the sharp bark of carbines-then grim. threatening yelp of voices. One leap brought me to the window, with gun barrel thrust forward across the sill. The two black shadows were breaking up in headlong rush toward the door at the south corner. I saw figures, not faces, . gleaming of poised weapons, a huddle of leapng bodies.
 "Fire!' I roared. my voice rising above the hideous din. Give it to them!" and pulled trigger.
 l have no clear knowledge of what followed-it was all so quickly over withs mere mad moment crowded with vague glimpses, vanishing and changing in the lurid light of the guns. The whole interior of the church blazed and echoed, the smoke choking us with its fumes, the noise stunning cur ears. l heard the chug of bullets fiattening against the logs, smothered oaths, the crash of an overturned bench, scream as shrill as a wom- an's, that made my heart leap. and Harwood's voice calling out the same word again and again. But although heard all this, I hardly knew it. my whole thought riveted on those black figures in front of me--those reckless devils We had to kill or drive back.
 And we did it! From every win dow. from every hastily smashed pane beside the door, We poured our fire the earbines sDittine into the dari i, their sharp barking incessant. Bar rels grew hot, the smoke drove back choking into our faces. but we pulled triggers, aiming as best we could in the moongleam, now changed to a red mist. They stopped; hung for a mo- ment motionless, the ground dotted with the dead: then tried again. There was roar of musketry. the crack of rifles: bullets chugged into the logs. and came crashing through the win dows Glass showered upon us. and the man next me went over like log; someone struck me across the face with a bloody hand and a shot splln- tered the stock of my gun. numbings my arm to the shoulder. gripped another weapon out of the stiffen. ing fingers of the man on the noor. firing again blindly into the smoke cloud. For an instant l could see nothing but that white vapor tingeo with red and yellow flame; then some breath of air swept it aside and the ! attackers were drifting back, running and Stumbl