The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-03

the relief force knew that bad as the
position might look the end was not
yet. They understood that the consul
and his band were fighting on interior
lines and would offer a frmer front
when driven into smaller area.
1t was evident. too, that the defense
had already inflicted heavy losses on
the rioters, and even in the excitement
OF that swift rush through the scat
tered horde few among the whites
failed to notice the extraordinary d.
versity of races which met ON that
hard fought battlefield. Chinese. Of
course, predominated. but small, active
Japs were there in plenty. 1.-the, dark
skinned Hindus, yellow faced Malays
and head hunting Dyaks. Not a few
tai and swarthy Psthans and a sprin-
king of Arabs in flowing burnooses Of
particolored stripes contributed to that
amazing melange.
Amid the smoke and dust IL was
difficult to make out exactly what was
happening. But the guns never halted.
Their goal lay on the level lawn In front
or the consulate, that inviolate spet
where the stars and stripes still 1oated
proudly above the tumult and carnage
beneath. On they dashed. every man
not actually drawing a Calling now
forming part of the living spearhead
which forced path through the howl
Ing, vicious and thoroughly enrased
mob.
The poor fellows in the firing line,
civilians wholly unaccustomed 70
scenes of bloodshed, were too spent
even to cheer the arrival Of the guns,
but delirious cry of joy went up from
the women and children who had been
packed into every room of the spacious
building. That shrill sound, the heart
rending appeal of womanhood for auc-
cor, changed the American marines
from men jaded by long run through
humid heat and continuous struggle
against heavy odds during the last
three-quarters Of a mile into beings of
almost superhuman energy. The Cat
hngs wheeled into position on either
side of a stunted palm tree which oc-
cupled the center of the lawn, and Gre
was opened with the rapidity and pre-
clsion born of long hours of training.
Each gun literally sprayed lead on
the horde in front At point blank
range the machine gunner does mt
take aim-he merely pumps a deadly
nail into the smoke and dust, and
nothing can live within it's periphery.
Inc effect of the Gatlings was instan-
taneous. Demoniac forms would spring
forward vaguely out Of the murk. only
to crumple up with bloodcurdling wells.
Nevertheless, with the advent of tK
guns the fight seemed to redouble it,
intensity. The undisciplined mob. act
Ing now entirely on it's own voliticn,
obeying no leader, a blind, infuriated,
|lmplacable monster, never dreamed OF
dividing its forces
BY the mercy of Providence none
among the rioters thought of this OBJ
yious bit of strategy. Where the battle
RACED thickest was the point on which
each furious wave of the assault flung
itself. The one faint element of control
centered around a Buddhist priest
whose lunatic vaporings had led to the
outbreak. Unarmed. his eyes ablaze.
this wretch screamed threats Of lowest
hell to towards and promises Of unend-
ing Nirvana to the believers who would
exterminate the foreign devils. With
MIN was an acolyte who beat an i'm
mense bronze gong, and the shrieks Of
the priest, the thunder Of the gong.
served to rally the maddened mob.
And so the human holocaust went on,
the defense losing one man to hun
bred OF the enemy, but still losing.
since that hard pressed islet of civiliza-
ton could less afford to lose one than
the ocean of barbarism a hundred.
ana then, when the struggle was at
It's height, when mems hearts wero
bursting and parched tongues loiled
out through arid lips, when the mind
reeied and the mere lust of killing
gave way to an automaton-like aiming
into the brown of Them great voice
with the clarion sound OF a trumpet
came from among the attackers. In
stantly there was a lull in the firing.
Again that marvellous voice sounded.
and the mob's rifles and matchlock.
were now wholly silenced.
A light breeze lifted and swept aside
the heavy pail of smoke, and the
astounded white men discovered that
every native within sight was stretched
race down on the ground, while tall
man, richly attired, whose garments
suggested some caliph Of romance rath-
er than a modern Chinese dignitary.
strobe rapidly forward whatsoever he
might be this amazing parsonage had a
most commanding individuality. The
very majesty Of his manner, tho con-
temptuous confidence with which he
moved through the covering multitude.
induced a species of awe among the
defenders Of the consulate.
His headdress of FURNISHED gold re-
hected the sunlight in dazzling CLEANS.
yet men disregarded the magnificencc
OF his apparel when they say the cold
fury OF his piercing eyes, the implaca-
bic anger betokened by his tight set
lips.
Major Cameron half raised hla re-
volver but lowered it as speedily. By
intuition be felt that he was ia the
presence OF some being far removed
from the corsmcn level OF humanity.
Ana the American consul. though
nearly beside himself with anger at the
heavy toll taken Of his people, knew
that at last he was face to face wifi
the enigma, the menace. the maste,
fanatic, All Singh.
ITO be Continued.