The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1915-01-14
CHAPTER Ix-conttnusd.


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 a shrapnel at close quar-
ters. the first bullet breath on his
cheek, or the first supporting shell
from his side In flight 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 q gale
that built cloud Of blue smoke over
the Offending Gray batteries-beauti-
full. 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 . hill.
using indirect aim as nicely and ac
'curately % il firing pointblank The
gunners Of the Gray batteries could
not 60 ON with their work under such
. hail-storm; they were checkmated,
They stopped firing and began moving
to = new position. where their com.
9aander hoped TO remain undiscovered
long enough to support the 12sth by
loosinG his liEhtnings against the de-
fsnders At the critical moment Of the
next charge, which would be made -
soon as Fracasses men had been rein
forced.
There WAS an end to the concus-
sioas and the thrashins Of the air
around Dellarme's men, and they had
the relief of breaking abscess In the
car. But they became more conscious
Of the spits Of dust In front Of their
faces and the passing whistles Of bull.
let's. In return. they made the sec
tons of Gray infantry in reserve rush.
ing across the levels, leave many gray
Jumps behind. But Fracasse's men at
the foot Of the slope poured In q heav.
Ter and still heavier hre.
Down heres where We need the
shells SOW" spoke the thought OF DEL
larme's men, which he had anticipated
by . ~ord to the signal corporal. who
waved his nag ore-two-three--fo
Dve times. Come on. now, with
more Of your special brand of death,
nre-control oneer! Your own head Ia
sSove the skyline. though your guns
arc hidden. Five hundred yards be-
yond the knoll Is the range! Come
on!
He came with burst Of screams 10
low in flight that they seemed to
brush the back Of the mems necks
With \ hair broom at the rate Of q
thousand feet = second Having
watched the result, Dellarme turned
with a counrmatory gesture. which the
corporal translated into the wigwas
ct Correct" The shrapnel smoke
hanging over Ffacasse's men appeared
. heavenly blue to Dellarme's men.
"They are going to start for VI
soon! Oh. but we'll get 4 lot OF
them!" whispered stransky xleefully
10 his ride.
Dellarme glanced again toward the
Solonels station. No sign Of the re-
firing nag. He was glad Of that. He
dh not want to fall back in face oi
. charge: to have his men silhouetted
in the valley as they retreated. And
the Crays would not endure this show
ef.bath long without going one way o,
the other. He gave the order n fl
bayonsts. and hardly was It obeyet
when he saw flashes OF steel through
tho shrapnel smoke as the Grays fixed
theirs. The Grays had 500 yards t.
20; the Browns bad the time that II
takes running men to cover the dis
tance in which to stop the Grays.
We'll spear any Of them who hal
Aa lsch to set this fart Whispered