The Holly chieftain., 1916-05-05
6lepFD MIST
A IALf OF CIVIL STQITT 7.
6cRANDALL PARRISH II
ILLUSTRATIONS :!l:.!1E TONS &&c.ppnoDf5
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7AcAcCZUE &O
CHAPTER xxv,,-con.,nu.d

the red mist before me we're 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; 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 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 we're all together
now-Harwood. Wharton-the sole
handful left, and we made 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
cut over one eye, the stock of his car
bine shattered.
"Ah. gunner Of Staunton." he called
out cheerily. although his voice
cracked with dryness. Didn't l tell
you If you wanted good time to jine
the cavalry"
Forward, men, forward" 1t was
Fox's voice. although saw nothing Of
him. "Once more, and it's over with
forward"
Now. lads. meet them!" burst out
Harwood.r about me. Third Kentucky
here they come!"
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, fired into each others faces,
trampled over writhing bodies. curs-
ing. or yelling defiance as they fell.
We scarcely knew friend from foe.
what occurred to myself in those
breathless moments. l know l fought
madly, blindly-again and again
sweeping space clear with my
weapon; hands gripped my throat my
hair, and tore loose: fingers clutched
at my legs, but kicked free. l was
conscious OF blows, of wounds: /
knew when Harwood fell, and was
trampled under foot; I heard others
scream; saw the hated face of Anse
Cewan in the ruck and leaped for
him. but whom my mad blow struck l
could not tell. Some rush, some quick
pressure Of bodies. hurled me side
wise. caught me in wise; l tripped
over dead man, staggered to my feet
again. got footing on the pulpit
platform, and held it for an instant,
my gun-barrel crashing into the mass
Of faces below. Wharton joined me,
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, clubbed musket
descended, and the sergeant pitched
forward like log of wood There was
shot, the blow of rife barrel, and
went down. the very breath of life
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
1t was for no more than an instant, yet
nv WhO1a hO6v folt prmhod md uco.
less. could scarcely move my fingers
to unclasp them from the gun barrel,
and every breath drew was in pain.
Still realized all that happened, dis
tnguished voices, and the shuffling Of
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 If the fellow Ia alive. Who is
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