The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-01-09

story Of two regiments, and particu
larly of two companies, and that il
story enough. If you would grasp the
whole, multiply the conflict on the
knoll by ten thousand.
There had been the engrossment
of transcendent emotion in repelling
the charge. What followed was like
some grim and passionless trance with
triggers ticking off the slow-passing
minutes. Dellarme aimed to keel
down the fusillade from Fracasse's
trench and yet not to neglect the fail
targets of the reserves advancing by
rushes to the support of the 12Sth
Reinforced, the gray streak at the bot
tom of the slope poured in a heavier
fire. Above the steady crackle of bull
lets sent and the whistle of bullets re
ceived rose the cry of Doctor! Doc.
tori" which meant each time that an.
other Brown rifle had been silenced.
| The litter bearers. hard pressed to re-
| move the wounded, left the dead. AL
ready death was a familiar sight-an
article OF exchange in which Del
larme's men dealt freely. The man
at Stransky's side had been killed out
rlght. he lay face down on his rifle
stock. His cap had fallen off. Stran-
sky put it back on the mans head,
and the example was followed in other
cases. 1t was good idea to keep UP
a show of full line of caps to the
enemy.
Suddenly, as by command, the fire
from the base of the knoll ceased alto
gether. Dellarme understood at once
what this meant-the next step in the
course OF systematic, irresistible APP
proach by superior numbers. 1t was
to allow the ground scouts to advance.
Individual gray spots detaching them
selves from the gray streak began to
crawl upward in search of dead spaces
where the contour of the ground would
furnish some protection from the
blaze of bullets from the crest.
Over their heads! Don't try to hit
them" Dellarme passed the word.
That's it! Spare one to get a
dozen!" said Stransky, grinning in
ready comprehension. He seemed to
be grinning every time that Dellarme
looked in that direction. He was
plainly enjoying himself. His restless
nature had found sport to its taste.
The creeping scouts must have sig
nailed back good news, for groups be-
gan crawling slowly after them.
over their heads! Encourage them!"
Dellarme commanded.
After they had advanced two or
three hundred yards they stopped.
shoulders and hands exposed in silhou-
cite, and began to work feverishly
with their spades.
"Oh, beautiful" cried Stransky.
THAT baby captain of ours has some
brains, after all! Well get them now
and we'll get them when they rum"
But they did not run. Unfalteringly !
they took their punishment while they
turned over the protecting sod in the |
midst of their own dead and wounded. |
In a few minutes they had dropped |
spades for rifles, and other sections |
either crawled or ran forward pre-
cipitately and fell to the task of join-
ing the isolated beginnings into a
single trench.
Again Dellarme looked toward regi-
mental headquarters, his fixed, CHEEKY
smile not wholly masking the appeal
in his eyes. The Grays had only two
Or three hundred yards to go when
they should make their next charge in
order to reach the crest. But his men
had fifteen hundred to go in the val.
ey before they were out of range
After theirbrave resistance facing the
enemy they would receive a hail of
bullets in their backs. This was the
line to withdraw if there were to he
Of safe retreat. But there
vas no signal. Until there was. he
must remain.
The trench grew; the day wore on
Two rifles to one were now plavjne
Igainst his devoted company, which
lad had neither food nor drink since
arly morning. AS he scanned his
thinning line he saw a look of blood.
essness and hopelessness gathering
n the set faces of which he had grown
o fond during this ordeal. Some of
he men were crouching too much for
Elective aim.
See that you fire low! Keep your
eads up" he called. For vour
ONES, your country and your God,
Ass the word along!" !
Parched throat after parched throat /
epeated the message hoarsely and 9
eaden shoulders raised a trifle and '
ust-matted eyelashes narrowed sharn.
, on the sights.
For the man in u.s." growled Stran. n
ky. For the favor of nature at birth r
nat gave us the right to wear trou. :
ers instead of skirts, For the tov +
hell, give them hell" L
For our homes! For the man in a
S." they repeated, swallowing the v
ords as If they had the taste of a
imulant. I,
But Dellarme knew that 1t would %
ot take much to precipitate a break.
e himself felt that he had been on h