The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-01-01
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adows were breaking up in headlons
sh toward the door at the south
corner saw figures, not faces. q
cleaning OF poised weapons, a huddle
bf leaping bodies.
"Fire!" ! roared. my voice RISING
Pbove the hideous din. give n ~
heml" and pulled trigger.
have no clear knowledge OF wha,
olowed--it was all 80 quickly over
With; q mere mad moment crowded
nth vague glimpses, vanishing and
hanging In the lurid light of the
uns. The whole interior OF the church
azed and echoed. the smoke choking
with It's fumes. the noise stunning
pr ears. heard the chug OF bullets
Ittening against the logs, smotheres
tbs, the crash or an overturned
pch, a scream as shrill as a WON.
Is, that made my heart leap. and
fiarwood's voice calling out the same
word again and again. But although
! heard all this, / hardly knew IL. NV
whole thought riyeted on those black
figures IN front Of me--those reckless
devils vie had to kill or drive back.
Aae ne did &C. From every win.
COW fi,sa eyssy hastily smashed pane
NnnE ne poured our fire.
u tt sting into the dark.
~ = sharp barking incessant. Bar
grew hot, the smoke drove back
king into our faces. but we pulled
Bgers, aiming as best we could in
monaghan, now changed TO red
H. They stopped; hung for a mo
nt motionless. the ground dotted
h the dead; then tried again. There
roar OF musketry, the crack OF
ms; bullets chugged into the logs,
nd came crashing through the win
lows. Glass showered upon us. and
pc man next me went over like log;
Yna bone struck me across the face
k1Jh bloody hand. and a shot spin.
pred the stock OF my gun. numbing
" arm to the shoulder. | grlpped
bother weapon out OF the stiffen-
bg fingers OF the man on the floor,
nring again blindly into the smoke
cloud. For an instant could see
nothing but that white vapor tinged
with red and yellow flame; then some
breath OF air swept IL aside. and the
attackers were drifting back, running
and stumbling.
stop flringl" cried. they've had
enough. Pass the word 20 those men
at the door,
The fight at the front held longer
yet IL was scarcely FIVE minutes when
tk<rdRst gun cracked, and strange
silence took the place of that hideous
uproaT. For an instant not even a cry
from the wounded broke the stiffness
the men leaning out OF the windows
watching the disorganized retreat
Then someone gave an exultant yell
and voice after voice caught Il up, the
old church echoing 10 the wild battle
cry OF the South.
STEADY, men, steady" shouted Har-
wood from the door OF the yestibule,
his voice cleaving the din like the
blade OF knife. This is only the
first act Load"
The light OF the moon streamed
in through the south windows. reveal
ing the overturned benches, the NOV
ing figures along the walls. the smoke
cloud drifting upward 70 the rafters.
The lieutenant picked his way down
the narrow aisle. He was bareheaded
land coatless. and even in that dim
hight could perceive a dark stain. like
|oozing blood. on the front Of his shirt.
"You are wounded?" I exclaimed
Nothing TO worry over" he re
|plied easily. his eyes laughing. "a
|mere touch In the shoulder. which.
however, has put my left arm out OF
All fair cousinl" and
be I'D up his hand in sudden greet
Ing I'VE who are about TO die salute
|you."
DO not say that" she pleaded.
|ssurely the victory is ours"
"Ayl we win the first round. but Il
has cost heavily. ] doubt II we have
Euch luck again, VIVA, loss have you
Wyatt"
1.-TWO wounded and one killed."
kusweTd sobarIy. I'VE had Cowan's
kuerr' las 10 meet out there"
YES. know; the infantrymen
tormod the front, and the troopers
IDeppered tho side windows. Wharton
as three down. while they got FIVE
n my lads. The front doors are
|airly riddled. They'll consolidate
ext time, trust 10 the weight OF mum
ers. and break through. They respect
now, but we haven't licked the
eht out OF them by long chalk. I'm
Ding 70 take three OF your men"
He whispered a word to her. some
ood.natured pleasantly, thought. as
howed over her hand as though
heH parted in gay parlor; then
,rn4 laughing away. and picked his
assage down the aisle. a slender.
ebonair figure. whistIing gay camp
me stared after him. scarcely able
comprehend such gay.spirited reck.
--@n uuhou he afonnod auddoofss