The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1915-03-19

shrapnel cracks, which ne dlu not
hear. He heard nothing thought moth
ing, except to kill,
The Gray batteries on the plain,
having taken up new position and
being reinforced, played on the crest
at top speed instantly the Gray line
rose and started up the slope at the
run. With the purpose Of confusing
no less than killing. they used percus-
sion, which burst on striking the
ground, as well as shrapnel, which
burst by time-fuse In the air. Foun-
tains OF sod and dirt shot upward to
meet descending sprays of bullets. The
conclusions of the earth shook the
aim OF Dellarmes men. blinded by
smoke and dust, as they fred through
a fog at bent figures whose legs were
pumping fast in dim pantomime.
But the guns OF the Browns, also,
have word that the charge has begun.
The signal corporal is waiting for the
gesture from Dellarme agreed upon as
an announcement. The Brown artil-
lery commander cuts his fuses two
hundred and fifty yards shorter. He,
too, uses percussion for moral effect
Half OF the distance from the foot
to the crest Of the knoll Fracasse's
men have gone in face of the hot, siz-
cling tornado of bullets. when there is
blast Of explosions in their faces
with all the chaotic and irresistible
force Of volcanic eruption. Not only
are they in the midst OF the first lot
of the Browns shells at the shorter
range, but one Gray battery has either
made a mistake in cutting its fuses or
struck streak Of powder below stand
ard, and its shells burst among those
whom 1t Is aiming to assist.
The ground seems rising under the
feet of Fracasse's company; the air IS
split and racked and wrenched and
torn with hideous screams Of invisible
demons. The men stop; they act on
the uncomfortable instinct Of self-pres-
ervation against an overwhelming
force OF nature. A few without the
power of locomotion drop, faces
pressed to the ground. The rest fee
toward a shoulder Of the slope
through the instinct that leads a
, hunted man in a street into an alley
In confusion of arms and legs, press
; ing one on the other, no longer sol
diers, only a mob, they throw them
selves behind the first protection that
offers itself Fracasse also runs. He
/, runs from the flame Of q furnace dool
suddenly thrown open.
The Gray batteries have ceased mr.
I ing; certain gunners' ears burn undel
= the words Of inquiry as to the cause
! of the mistake from an artillery com
/ mander. Dellarme's men are huggint
the earth too close to cheer. A desire
!, to spring up and yell may be In theil
hearts, but they know the danger o
:. showing a single unnecessary inch o
!, their craniums above the skyline. Tit
sounds that escape their threats ar
= those Of a winning team at tug o
q war as diaphragms relax.
With the smoke clearing, they SCI
20 or 80 Grays plastered on the slop
at the point where the charge wa
checked. Every one Of those prostrat
. forms Is within fatal range. Not on
y moves a finger; even the living ar
: feigning death In the hope OF survi'
7 ing. Among them is little Peterkir
= so faithful in forcing his refractor
I legs to keep pace with his comrades
= II he is always up with them they wi
d never know what is in his heart an
y call him a coward AS he has bee
y knocked unconscious, he has not bee
!" in the pell-mell retreat
His first stabbing thought on comm
le to was that he must be dead; but, nc
u he was opening HIS eyes sticky wit
% dust. At least, he must be wounded
10 He had not power yet to move b
II hands in order to feel where. and whe
u they grew alive enough to move, WIFI
b, he saw In front Of him held the
Is frig.dly still. His nerves went scare
as ing from his head to his feet and
'e- miracle Of heaven!-found no point
ne pain or spot soppy with blood. II !
were really hit there was bound TO
80 one or the other, he knew from rea
10 ing.
KS Between him and the faces OF Il
Browns-yes. the actual. living, ter
ng BILE Browns-aboye the CLINT Of the
co rife barrels. was no obstacle tn
ne could stop a bullet, though not mo
az than three feet away was q crat
ke made BY a shell burst The black c
'eo els Of every muzzle on the ere
seemed to be pointing at him. VIII
US were they going to shoot? When "
OF he to be executed? Would he be sh
lily IN many places and die thus? Or won
the very first bullet go through
he head? Why didn't they fire. WI
re- were they waiting for! The suspen
He was unbearable. The desperation
Of overwhelming fear driving him in ir
ted sponsible impulse, he doubled up
nd legs and with a cats leap sprang
)w- the crater.
or A bloodcurdling burst Of whist
tx passed over his head IS a dozen riff
red cracked. This time be was sur
Ugh killed. He was in some other wori
zed Which was It, the good or the bs
to The good, for he had . glimpse of b
n - ~ sha4 rnrfd MT Ia for he