Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-04-14
CHAPTER XVII.
The End o. Defense.


had no time for thought-action |
called me. Yet her last unfinished
sentence rang In my memory. Could
1t be that she cared alsog That out
OF this strange association there had
grown an awakening INTEREST," For q
single moment / stood there motion
less. my feet on the lowered trap. dim,
~ conscious Of the uproaF about me,
yet scarcely able to realize the immi
nence or the peril. They were pouring
volleys into the front door--the roar
ing OF discharge ending In the sound
OF splintered wood. and sharp cries Of
pain. Carblnes cracked in response,
and Harwood's voice sounded con.
tinually through the hideoua dlscord
"0et back. meni Get backl ~. be.
yond the partition. you fellows 10 front
therel No. don't leave the windows;
they'll charge presently, and there ls
no use firing those carbines now--ths
range 10 too long. Load again-loadl
and stand ready. WYATT"
Here. sir"
ANY work for you thersf'
mo: only q half dozen Yanks IN
sight from this end"
Bring all but two men. and come
herel wharton. stand ready TO take
q hand. ALL there the blue-belliea
come. lads-now give them the leadl
Fret damn you--Grel"
The little squad bf US leaped down
the aisle. and Wharton'a men clam.
bered oven the benches. cursing and
yelling. Already the smoke Of the car
bines filled the church, and we could
see little except In the fash Of the
gun6re. The swlFl OF bodies hurled
me to the right, away from where
Harwood stood. and brought me In
front Of the opposite door. Through
this opening and the narrow window
beyond, J got glimpse outalde--at .
black mass OF men sweeping straight
toward US, their guns cleaning
vieiously. their voices echoing IN saw
age shout. Il was q mere glimpse, an
Internal vision. and. almost af the same
instant they came crashing against the
shattered door. beating II down with
their gun-stockn. and leaping through
into the maze of overturned benches
lltlering the vestIbYle. The door fell IN
gpllnters. How they got through that
tangle Of death know not. Into their
very faces we poured our ire-ouT
own men, caught within the marrow
space. striking ~ them with dubbed
. guns-but they were too many 70 be
, held. Over the dead poured the tor
, rent OF living. firing. curHing. striking
! 1amming the few gray-jackets against
! the inner wall. and. In two raaiatiesl
streams, hurting themselves againn
/. both yestibuie doors.
Wedged IN the portals. saw all thiI
!. 80 clearly that each detail stands GU
in memory--the Infatuated faces. tn
; falling bodies. the dishguFins blood
stains. the savage CLINT Of stsel. Thos'
4 who came first we're mot soldiers
they were Cowan'a men. gaunt, Fougl
: fellows. bearded and dirty. their 1sFcI
s curses sounding above the upgoaI
And they fought like tends. driven b
4 Cowan's voice. snd pressed fasaoFsl
: Iessly forward by the eavaiTymsn b
AamA. gaw him onee, bl0oa amea "
hin cheek, and ! AIRED over ~ hsaA
! % taIose bstwsea us, but sbeaeb y
!. sell. be came e kIs fest again sd ~
5 swept 70 one side b. the rush ef Bau
! saw all this. and 10 m0ges Is ~
J. Ike q fash On the gcreen-and th@l
! everything became an indfatlmea hims
trO nE cONTINUED1