Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1915-03-19

y ~ - ~
my rine | could distinguish the naked
forms OF sayages. leaplng amid tho
smoke wreaths, stumbling, clutchlng
ut the air with empty hands. Then all
at once they disappeared. vanished as
II by magic. Smoke chung to the
ground, yet amid its swirls | could
perceive no movement; the fierce yell.
ing ceased. What this sudden cessa.
ton meant ! could not guess. but my
hand reached lnstlnctively for powder
and ball. Then another yell, louder,
more deadly with feroclty, smote my
cars; bullets chugged into the logs.
some n near me gave utterance to n
roar OF pain, and blows crashed
against the barred door. / thrust my
rifle forward-a tomahawk struck the
%protruding barrel as | pulled trigger,
and | was flung backward to the floor.
blood streaming from my shoulder.
could hardly breathe In tho thick
smoke; | could see nothing, yet out Of
the babel OF noise | was conscious Of
Brady's voice yelling an order;
The door! Barrlcade the doorl"
staggered to my feet and dragged
the bench forward; some ono grlpped
the table along with me, and together
we hurled It on top. our bodies holding
1t there. had dropped my rife, but
some one thrust another into my hand.
Blood streamed down into my eyes
from n cut on my forehead. binding
me so | saw nothing. yet my fingers
touched n hand. Even then / felt the
thrill OF that contact.
You, Renel Go backl For Gods
sake, go baclI!" I sobbed breathlessly.
Just an instant she grasped me,
chung to me, her head pressing against
my sleeve.
yes, monsieur!"
Then she was gone; I reached out
for her, but she was no longer there.
T~omahawks crashed into the wood OF
Tho door; there was a sound OF splin-
terlng. Brady ripped out an oath, a
Wild yell OF triumph echoed without.
Through n nearby loop-hole some saw.
age thrust his gun, and fred bllndly,
the sudden fash lighting the murk, In
the Instant red glow | caught n
glimpse OF the interlor-of n body ly.
Ing before the fireplace. OF Schultz stlll
on his knees. rifle In hand. Of Brady
gripping an AK, his head bare, a ghast.
ly wound on the side OF his face. Then
the smoke hid all.
Something crashed against the door,
shaking the whole cabin: again and
again the blow fell, the tough wood
bursting asundcr, the stout bar bend.
Ing, yet swapping back once more as
the sockets held. Amid the din Of
shouts, the crash OF wood. my eyes
met Brady's.
You're hurt"
"Ay!" splitting out blood before he
could answer Jaw shot"
Tho door crashed In. the great butt
OF a tree coming with It, and half
blocking the passage, Al that re.
malned was instantly filed with ssv.
age figures. Into the mass OF them !
fred my last shot, the fame OF dis.
charge soaring the hldeous faces.
Then ! was hurled 10 the right, shout
der 10 shoulder with Schultz, gripping
my gun baVel with both hands. swing.
Ing It like a fail. ] crushed the skull
OF q savage. drove the butt into the
face OF another; saw the fash OF a
t~omahnvk held UP for an instant the
soldiers reoling body, only TO throw Il
aside, smashed the red hand held
out 10 grin him as he went down, drew
back a step In search OF more room.
and with one mighty sweep OF my
weapon cleared a circle before me.
Cod II was CHASTITY, lnhuman. devil.
ishl Those behind pushed and yelled;
there was no escape saw painted
faces, naked shoulders; wild eyes
glared hatred into mine; tomahawk
and knife flashed. The butt OF my gun
smashed. ! grlpped the Iron, my teeth
clinched, and blood on hre. | had no
sense OF fear left. no consciousness OF
peril. | wanted 10 strike, 10 kill. 10
brulse those hldeous faces, 20 batter
them into pulp. The rage OF conflict
seized me; there swept over me the
ferocity OF the insane.
I gave back. compelled by the mere
force OF numbers hurled against me.
yet kept clear a space no savage left
unhurt, ! felt in my arms the strength
OF n dozen men, and not the grip OF n
red hanu reached mo. The nends
snarled and struggled, but the fierce
swing OF tho iron bar crushed them
back. It was twilight where | stood at
bay. the narrow opening, almost blot.
ted out by those struggling figures