The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-01-08
CHAPTER IX-Continued.

But would one? He understood
that with their smokeless powder the
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
long wall! No man ever forgets the
first crack of shrapnel at close quar-
ters, the first bullet breath on his
cheek, or the first supporting she'll
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 1t.
"Thur-eesh thur-eesh = thur-eesh.
the screaming overhead became 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 &C.
curately as if firing pointblank. The
gunners Of the Gray batteries could
not 90 on with their work under such
a hail-storm; they were checkmated.
They stopped firing and began moving
to a new position, where their conf
mander hoped to remain undiscovered
long enough to support the 12sth by
loosing his lightnings against the de-
tenders at the critical moment of the
next charge, which would be made as
soon as Fracasses men had been rein
forced.
There was an end to the concus-
sions and the thrashing of the air
around Dellarme's men, and they had
the relief of a breaking abscess in the
ear. But they became more conscious
of the spits of dust in front of their
faces and the passing whistles of bull
lets. In return, they made the Sec
lions 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 heav
Ter and still heavier fire.
Down there's where we need the
shells now!" spoke the thought of Del
larme's men, which he had anticipated
by a word to the signal corporal, who
waved his flag one-two-three-four
five times. Come on, now, with
more of your special brand of death,
fire-control officer! Your own head is
above the skyline, though your guns
are hidden. Five hundred yards be-
yond the knoll is the range! Come
on!
He came with burst OF screams so
low in fight that they seemed to
brush the back Of the mems necks
with a hair broom at the rate of
thousand feet a second Having
watched the result, Dellarme turned
with confirmatory gesture, which the
corporal translated into the wigwag
Of Correct" The shrapnel smoke
hanging over Fracasses men appeared
a heavenly blue to Dellarme's men.
They are going to start for us
soon! Oh, but we'll get lot Of
them!" whispered Stransky gleefuIIy
TO his rife.
DeIlarme glanced again toward the
colonels station. No sign of the re-
firing flag. He was glad Of that. He
did not want to fall back In face Of
q charge; to have his men silhouetted
in the valley as they retreated. And
the Grays would not endure this show
er.bath long without going one way or
the other. He gave the order to fix
bayonets, and hardly was 1t obeyed
when he saw flashes of steel through
the shrapnel smoke as the Grays fixed
theirs. The Grays had 800 yards to
go; the Browns had the time that 1t
takes running men to cover the dis
lance in which to stop the Grays.
Well spear any of them who has
the luck to get this far!" whispered