The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-04-28


the real fight will be here; they are
going to try us out, that is certain"
| walked back to my station The
line OF men threatening this end Of
the building had been drawn aside,
out OF direct rifle range, and seemed
10 be grouped opposite each corner,
and were so closely punched together
as to make any estimate Of their mum.
bers impossible They were only
shapeIess shadows, with moonlight
cleaning from their weapons. and an
occasional voice breaking the OminOuS
silence, There remained nothing to
DO but await their action. ready for
whatever might occur. passed along
the wall from man to man, assuring
myself each was at his station, with
loaded weapon. and well.hlled car
fridge belt.
The fight will begin in front" !
whispered, unable to distinguish faces,
and no firing here until give the
word"
In the darker corner where the pris.
oner sat mOtiOnless against the log
wall. my eyes could distinguish moth.
ing.
"Noreen."
Yes" and she stood up. Couldn't
you see me?"
mot the taintest shadow. II
wanted to thank you for the choice
you made"
You mean my coming with you?
You are glad | did,"
Yes, very glad" | said earnestly,
FOR you are just as safe here. and
and | would rather have you near ne.
This may prove a desperate struggle;
we are terribly outnumbered-and-
and we'll, you know, you-you trusted
to me-you are under my pro-
lection"
There was no answer; perhaps
had said too much. Suddenly a volIey
reared out, startling in the Stiffness
shout OF COmmand-the sharp bark
Of carbines-then a grim. threatening
yeIp Of voices One leap brought me
TO the window, with gun barrel thrust
forward across the sill The two black
shadows were breaking up in headlong
rush toward the door at the south
corner. ! saw figures, not faces.
of poised weapons. a huddle
II leaping bodies.
"Fire!" ! reared. my voice rising
above the hideous din. Give it to
hem!" and pulled trigger.
have no clear knowledge of what
ollowed-it was all so quickly over
With; a mere mad moment crowded
With vague glimpses, vanishing and
changing in the lurid light of the
,uns. The whole interior of the church
,lazed and echoed, the smoke choking
IS with its fumes. the noise stunning
'ur ears. | heard the chug of bullets
lattening against the logs, smothered
Daths, the crash Of an overturned
,ench, scream as shrill as a WON. |
ms that made my heart leap, and !
Iarwood's voice calling out the same |,
word again and again But although I
heard all this, | hardly knew it, my !
whole thought riveted on those black |
lgures in trent of me-those reckless |
lewis we had to kill or drive back.
And we did It! From every win.
low, from every hastily smashed pane !
reside the door. we poured our fire
he carbines splitting into the dark.
heir sharp barking incessant. Bar.
els grew hot, the smoke drove back
hoking into our faces. but we pulled
riggers. aiming as best we could In
he monaghan, now changed to a red
mist. They stopped; hung for a mo-
1ent motionless. the ground dotted
With the dead; then tried again. There
vas roar Of musketry. the crack of
ifes bullets chugged into the logs.
nd came crashing through the win.
ows. Glass showered upon US. and
he man next me went over like log: (
omeone struck me across the face
nth bloody hand and shot spin.
cred the stock Of my gun. numbng
~ arm to the shoulder. gripped
mother weapon out Of the stiffen.
~ fingers Of the man on the floor.
ring again blindly into the smoke
loud. For an instant could see
othing but that white vapor tinged
18th red and yellow fame; then some
reath Of air swept It aside. and the
ttackers we're drifting back, running
nd stumbling.
Stop fring!" ] cried. they've had
nough. Pass the word to those men
/ the door"
The fight at the front held longer,
ct it was scarcely FIVE minutes when
le last gun cracked. and strange
Hence took the place of tFat hideous
proar For an instant not even cry
ON the wounded broke the stiffness.
le men leaning out Of the windows
atchlng the disorganiZed retreat
hen someone gave an exultant yell.
nd voice after voice caught 1t up. the
d church echoing to the wild battle