Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-02-03
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CHAPTER xxv;i-Continued,

They were upon US, damned In the
aarrow doorways, each man fighting
or life. | used gun and revolver. In
the red mist before me were black
shapes. hateful faces. Twice l lost
foot and fell. but was up again. front
Ing them. stepped on dead bodies.
slipped in pools of blood: falling men
caused me to stagger; a slug Of lead
tore burning through my shoulder; a
slancing knife blade ripped my fore
arm. had no time. no room. in which
to reload; my hands gripped the hot
carbine barrel. and l swung the stock
ike a fail.
Inch by inch they won through the
door: we could kill. but not stop them,
ana they hurled US back. stumbling
over the dead. clambering across over.
turned benches, but unable to stem the
increasing tide. We were all together
now-Harwood. Wharton-the sole
handful left, and we made fight of It,
the best we could. There was a mo.
nent's pause, the merest instant In
which to breathe. and my eyes met
Harwood's.s He was naked to the
waist. hatless. blood dripping from a
cut over one eye, the stock of his car
bine shattered.
"Ah. gunner Of Staunton." he called
out chcerily. although his voice
cracked with dryness. Didn't tell
you IL you wanted a good time to jine
the cavalry"
Forward, men. forward" 1t was
Fox's voice. although I saw nothing Of
him. "Once more, end it's over with
forward"
Now, lads, meet them!" burst out
Harweod. About me, Third Kentucky
here they comet"
They drove US in so as to encircle
Us, yet the tumble of benches served
as some protection to our rear. Per-
haps the fact that there were Yankees
between us and the pulpit prevented
firing for We met hand to hand in a
death grapple. ! have seen battles.
yet nothing like that; 1t was as though
beasts of the jungle fought; men strug-
gled with naked hands. struck death
blows. fred into each others faces,
trampled over writhing bodies. ours
ing. or yelling defiance as they fell.
We scarcely knew friend from foe,
blue from gray. l cannot even tell
what occurred to myself in those
GREATNESS moments. | know fought
madly. blindIy-again and again
sweeping a space clear with my
weapon; hands grpped my throat my
hair, and tore loose; fingers clutched
at my legs. but | kicked free. was
conscious of blows. of wounds;
knew when HARDWOOD fell. and was
trampled under foot; | heard others
scream; ! saw the hated face of Anse
Cowan in the ruck and leaped for
him, but whom my mad blow struck |
could not tell. Some rush, some quick
pressure of bodies, hurled me side
wise. caught me in a wise; ! tripped
over a dead man, staggered to my feet
again. got footing on the pulpit
platform. and held 1t for an instant.
my gun barrel crashing into the mass
Of faces below. Wharton joined me,
4 bull mad with rage; saw him rend
the pulpit stand from the floor and
hurl it with all his strength into the
ruck. Then twenty hands gripped him.
hauling him down. a dubbed musket
descended. and the sergeant pitched
forward like log Of wood. There was
4 shot, the blow of rife barrel, and
| went down. the very breath OF lie
seemingly knocked out OF me-
fell on the platform, back OF where
the pulpit desk had stood. and body
lay across me- If lost consciousness
It was for no more than an instant. yet
nv whole body felt numbed and use
less. / could scarcely move my fingers
TO unclasp them from the gun barrel,
and every breath | drew was in pain.
Etill | realized all that happened. dis.
anguished voices, and the shutting or
feet on the puncheon floor. heard
Fox shouting orders. as the mad hub
bub ceased.
That's enough! That's enough,
men! It's all over with. Here. ser
geant, round up those prisoners; God
knows there are few enough OF the
poor devils left Guard those able to
walk outside. Now, Herzog, carry the
wounded over here. What? Why. OF
course you idiot, We are not savages-
those fellows fought like men. and are
to be treated decently. No distinction.
mind YOU Let the dead lie where
they are till daylight. but don't over
look = wounded man. Where's Cowan
Does anybody know"
Shot. sir; he's here in this pile
somewhere"
See IL the fellow Is alive. Who ID
his lieutenant"
Il am. sir: my names Kelly"
We'll get your damn crew Of scoun.
drels out Ct here, what's left OF them.
Do you hear! This Is soldier work.
and | want you fellows outside"
You used US all right when thar
wu7 fightin' ter do"
That's enough. Kelly. didn't use
you-Moran did: and you can 60 to
him with your complaints l know
how you treat prisoners. and would
hang the whole of you. II ! had my
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