Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-04-21
II COoN3hGTT
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CHAPTER xxvlI-contlnued.

They were upon US. jammed in the
narrow doorways, each man fighting
for 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. Z 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
glancing 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
like a fail.
Inch by inch they won through the
door; we could kill. but not stop them.
and 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 a fight of 1t.
the best we could. There was a mo-
ment's pause, the merest instant in
which to breathe, and my eyes met
Harwood'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 cheerily, although his voice
you If you wanted a good time to line
the cavalry"
Forward, men, forward" 1t was
Fox's voice, although saw nothing oil
him. "Once more, and it's over with
forward"
Now, lads, meet them!" burst out
HARDWOOD. about me. Third Kentucky
here they comet"
They drove us in so as to encirclt
| 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 /
death grapple. have seen battles
yet nothing like that; il was as though
beasts of the jungle fought; men strug
gled with naked hands. struck dealt
blows, fired 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. / cannot even tel
what occurred to myself in thos
breathless moments. l know ! tough
madly, blindly-again and agai
sweeping a space clear with m
weapon; hands gripped my throat, m
hair, and tore loose; fingers clutche
at my legs, but / kicked free. | wa
conscious OF blows, of wounds:
knew when Harwood fell, and we
trampled under foot; / heard other
scream; / saw the hated face of Ans
Cowan in the ruck and leaped fe
him. but whom my mad blow struck
could not tell. Some rush, some quito
pressure Of bodies. hurled me sid
wise, caught me In wise; | trippe
over a dead man, staggered to my fe,
s again. / got footing on the pulp
platform, and held it for an instan
my gun-barrel crashing into the mai
of faces below. Wharton joined m
a bull mad with rage; / saw him ren
the pulpit stand from the floor ar
hurl 1t with all his strength into Il
ruck. Then twenty hands gripped hir
hauling him down. dubbed musk
descended, and the sergeant pitchs
forward like log of wood. There vi
a shot, the blow of a rife barrel, an
went down, the very breath of ii
seemingly knocked out OF me.
fell on the platform, back of whel
the pulpit desk had stood, and q bod
lay across me. II lost consciousne
1t was for no more than an instant. y
my whole body felt numbed and US
less. could scarcely move my finge
to unclasp them from the gun barre
and every breath drew was IN pal
Still realized all that happened, d.
tinguished voices, and the stunning
feet on the puncheon foor. I hea
Fox shouting orders, as the mad hu
bub ceased.
That's enoughl That's enoue
men! It's all over with. Here, 81
geant. round up those prisoners; O.
knows there are few enough of q
poor devils left. Guard those able
! walk outside. Nov. Herzog, carry 4
: wounded over here. What? Why.
, course, you idiot, we are not savages
: those fellows fought like men. and q
2 to be treated decently. No distinctic
mind you. Let the dead lie whe
they are till daylight, but don't ovt
{ look a wounded man. Where's Cowa
:, Does anybody know7"
: Shot. sir; he's here in this p
: somewhere"
See if the fellow is alive. Who
bis Iieutenant2n