The Red Cloud chief., 1915-12-30

mani see. Queer duck, that preach.
era bit Of Q knave, to my notion. and
one of the finest liars ! have ever
heard; he'll bear watching. All! our
friend the major has come to his
senses--look yonder! They are NOV
ing back out OF range"
"Ay! and concentrating O 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 a rush from all directions. but
| the real fight will be here; they are
going to try US out, that Is certain
I 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 we're 80 closely punched together
as to make any estimate OF their num-
bers impossible. They were only
shapeless shadows. with moonlight
cleaning from their weapons. and an
|
silence. There remained nothing to
do but await their action. ready for
whatever might occur. | passed along
| the wall from man to man, assuring
myself each was at his station. with
loaded weapon, and well.tlled car
fridge belt.
THE fight will begin in front" ]
whispered. unable to distinguish faces.
"and no firing here until / give the
word"
In the darker corner where the pris-
oner sat motionless against the log
wall, my eyes could distinguish moth.
ing.
"Noreen."
"Yes," and she stood up. Couldn't
you see me?"
mot the faintest shadow. II
wanted to thank you for the choice
you made"
you mean my coming with you
You are glad ] did?"
YES. very glad" said earnestly
"for you are Just as safe here. and
and l would rather have you near me
This may prove a desperate struggle;
we are terribly tnumbered-and-
and, well. you know. you--you trusted
yourself to me-you are under my pro
lection"
There was no answer; perhaps
had said too much. Suddenly a volley
roared out. startling in the Stiffness
a shout OF command--the sharp barb
Of carbines--then a grim. threatening
yelp OF voices. One leap brought me
to the window. with gun barrel thrus,
forward across the sill. The two black
shadows were breaking up in headlont
rush toward the door Mt the south
corner saw figures. not faces, {
cleaning Of poised weapons. huddl,
of leaping bodies.
FIRE." l roared. my voice risinl
above the hideous din. Give 1t t.
them!" and pulled trigger.
have no clear knowledge of wha
followed--it was all so quickly owe
with; mere mad moment crowde,
with vague glimpses. vanishing an,
changing in the lurid light OF tn
guns. The whole interior of the churcl
blazed and echoed. the smoke chokini
us with its fumes. the noise stunning
our ears. heard the chug of bullet
flattening against the logs. smothere,
oaths, the crash of an overturne
bench, scream az shrill as a won
ans, that made my heart leap. an
Harwood's voice calling out the sam
word again and again. But althoug
| heard all this, hardly knew it, m
whole thought riveted on those blac
figures in front of me-those rockies
. devils we had to kill or drive back.
= And we did it! From every viii
dow, from every hastily smashed pan
beside the door. we poured our fire.
y the carbines splitting into the darl
their sharp barking incessant. Ba
rels grew hot. the smoke drove bac
-. choking into our faces. but we pulle
% triggers, aiming as best we could
:. the monaghan, now changed to q re
mist. They stopped: hung for . m
. ment motionless. the ground dotte
= with the dead; then tried again. Thel
!" was roar Of musketry. the crack
!. rifles; bullets chugged into the log
" and came crashing through the wi
+. dows. Glass showered upon US. al
:. the man next me went over like lol
" someone struck me across the IA
with bloody hand. and shot spill
tered the stock Of my gun. numbil
10 my arm to the shoulder. ! gripp,
:" another weapon out OF the stiffe
T.. ing fingers Of the man on the foo
=. firing again blindly into the smo
~ cloud. For an instant ! could s
" nothing but that white vapor ting
=, with red and yellow fame; then sol
- breath OF air swept 1t aside. and
attackers we're drifting back, runni
and stumbling.
stop fring!" ] cried, they've h
In enough. Pass the word to those IN
st. at the door"
re The fight at the front held long
yet it was scarcely five minutes VIII
IN | tho last Gun cracked and a strau