The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1916-01-13
CHAPTER xxv;I-Continued
u COpE2NGHT
G0


tor life. used gun and revolver. In
the red mist before me were black
shapes, hateful faces. Twice I 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; a slug Of lead
tore burning through my shoulder: a
siancing 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 fall.
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-Iiarwood. Wharton--the sole
handful left, and we madea fight of II.
the best we could There was a mo-
,ment's pause. the merest instant In
which to breathe. and my eyes met
'Harwoods. 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 Stanton" he called
out cheerily. although his voice
cracked with dryness. Didn't I tel,
you " you wanted a good time to fine
the cavalry"
Forward. men, forward" It was
Foxs voice. although saw nothing of
MIN. Once more. End It's over with
forward"
Now. lads, meet them!" burst out
Harwood About me. Third Kentucky
here they comet"
They drove us In 80 as to encirc,e
US. yet the tumble of benches served
az some protection to our rear. Per.
haps the fact that there were Yankees
between US and the pulpit prevented
hiring for We met hand to hand In a
death grapple. have seen battles.
yet nothing like that: II was as though
beasts Of the jungle fought; men strug.
gied with naked hands. struck death
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 those
GREATNESS moments. I know I fought
madly. blindly-again and again
sweeping space clear with nv
weapon: hands gripped my throat nv
hair. and ! tore loose: fingers cIutched
at my legs. but ! kicked free. ! was
conscious OF blows. OF wounds: I
knew when Harwood fell. and was
trampled under foot; I heard others
scream; ! saw the hated face of Anse
Cowan In the ruck and leaped for
him. but whom my mad blow struck I
could not tell. Some rush. some quick
pressure OF bodies. hurled me side
wise. caught me In q wise; ] tripped
over dead man. staggered to my feet
again. got footing on the pulpit
platform, and held 1t for an instant.
my Sun.barrel crashing into the mass
OF faces below. Wharton Joined me,
a bull mad with rage; ! saw him rend
the pulpit stand from the floor and
hurl II 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
a shot, the blow OF a rife barrel. and
] went down. the very breath of life
seemingly knocked out OF me.
I fell on the platform. back OF where
the pulpit desk had stood. and n body
lay across me. II lost consciousness
1t was for no more than an instant, yet
my whole body felt numbed and use
less. I could scarcely move my fingers
to unciasp them from the gun barrel
and every breath ! drew was In pain
Still ! realized all that happened, dis
tinguished voices. and the shutiling OF
feet on the puncheon floor. heard
Fox shouting orders. as the mad hub
hub ceased
That's enough! That's enough
men! It's all over with. Here. ser
geant, round up those prisoners; Goo
knows there are few enough of tn,
poor devils left. Guard those able (,
walk outside. Now. Herzog, carry tn,
wounded over here. What? Why. O
course, you idiot. we are not savages-
those fellows fought like men. and ar,
to be treated decently. No distinction
mind you. Let the dead lie wher,
they are till daylight, but don't over
look wounded man. Where's Cowan
Does anybody know"
Shot. sir: he's here In this pill
somewhere"
See II the fellow Is alive. Who 4
his iieutenant!"
Il am. sir: my names Kelly"
Well get your damn crew OF scoun
'dreis 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 tina
wus fightin' ter do"
That's enough, Kelly. didn't us,
you-Moran did; and you can go I,
him with your complaints know
how you treat prisoners. and woul,
hang the whole of you, II had IN,