Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-03-10
IL cOoN1NC.HT
lac NccLLIN sea
CHAPTER xxviI-contlnued.

~
They were upon US. jammed In the
marrow doorways. each man fighting
Tor life. ! used gun and revolver. In
the red mist before me were black
shapes. hateful faces. Twice lost
loot and fell, but was up again, 'front.'
ing them | stepped on dead bodies.
slipped IL. pools of blood: falling men
caused me to stagger; a slug of lead
tore burning through my shoulder; q
siancing 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 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 fight of IL,
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 tell
you IL you wanted good time to fine
the cavalry"
Forward. men, forward" II was
Fox's voice. although saw nothing of
aim. Once more. End it's over with
forward"
Now. lads. meet them!" burst out
HARDWOOD. about me. Third Kentucky
here they GOMEZ"
They drove us In so as to encircle
rs. yet the tumble OF benches served
rs 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 I'm a
death grapple. have seen battles,
vet nothing like that; II was as though
beasts OF the jungle fought; men strug.
gied with naked hands. struck death
blows. hred mt, each others faces,
trampied over yrithing bodies, ours.
Ing. OF yelling defiance as they fell.
We scarcely knew friend from zoe,
blue from gray. I cannot even tell
what occurred to myself in those
GREATNESS moments. I know fought
madly. blindly-again and again
sweeping a space clear with nv
weapon; hands gripped my throat. nv
hair, and ! tore loose; fingers clutched
at my legs, but kicked free. | was
conscious of blows. of wounds: I
knew when Harwood fell. and was
tramp ID 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 wise; tripped
over dead man, staggered to my feet
again. got footing on the pulpit
platform, and held it for an instant,
my gunrbarrel 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 1t 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
shot. the blow of rifle 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
my 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.
Still realized all that happened, dis.
tingpished voices, and the shutting OF
feet on the puncheon floor. I heard
Fox shouting orders. as the mad hub
bub ceased.
That's enough! Thatt 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 decentiy. No distinction.
mind you. Let the dead lie where
they are TIL daylight, but don't over
look wounded man. Where's Cowani
Does anybody known"
Shot, sir; he's here in this pile
somewhere
See Y the fellow is alive. Who In
his lieutenant"
am. sir; my names Kelly"
Well get your damn crew Of scoun-
drels out of 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