The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1943-01-02

were not already at their backs.
In the red glare from burning
houses on the north road, a
small party of the enemy charg-
ed to the very edge of the
square, and Gunnar, Kjerlof,
Jensen, and half q hundred more
beat them back hand to hand.
But now they were ut the end.
Get the stores to the boats"
Gunnar ordered, and went back
to the square.
The men at the guns turned
blackened faces toward him.
Where to, Gunnar? What do
we do?"
Get word to the gun crews"
Gunnar said. I'VE sail for Eng
land" And his voice was as cas-
ual as if he had said, 1--WE sail
to the Lofotens," or 1--WE 60
fishing in the morning"
They began carrying food
stocks to the boats. About q
thousand rounds of ammunition
were left. One of the machine
guns had been hit and put out
of the fight, but they took it
anyway, and the rifles they had
captured. On the docks, men
busted themselves at the gaso-
line pumps, filling the tanks,
while behind them the red glare
in the Sky rose higher and high
er.
But Malken had an idea. 1.-THE
bridge is destroyed" he cried.
IF we took boats to the south
shore of the ford they could
never follow us. And before
troops came up from Stoksund
over the snow on the roads we
could be miles back in the val
leys. How would they ever get
soldiers at us in the mountains?
We could hold out for months"
II know that region" Kjer-
lof said, and they remembered
1t had been he who had led Ham,
mer over those hills to the bor-
der.
And the women" said Aale-
sen.
II stay with the men," Sol
veig broke in. "Those who want
to can 60 to Sweden. At least
they will be safe until after the
war"
Gunnar paced rapidly back
into the shop. Fishermen carry
ing out supplies hurried faster
when they heard wha had been
decided. Others ran out to the
road, to the line back of the
church, to the alley beside the
shoemaker's shop. Keep hold
of your rifles when you come"
they cried.
The flames rose higher in the
background. In burst of wind
the schoolhouse caught, and the
whole turbulent square grew
bright.
Margit Osterholm, white of
face, and looking much older,
was with Fru Eriksen. helping
wounded men down to the boats.
Solveig had run upstairs and
come back with several pairs
of skis. Sverre worked with the
butcher starting up m tors,
throwing out nets and fishing
gear. Einar and Oluf came,
bearing the wireless between
them.
Stensgard went to Gunnar.
He had to shout to be heard
over tht noise and the roaring
of the flames. when the men
draw back the troops
will be on top of you be-
fore you get the boats Off"
Get your woun d e d out"
Gunnar cried. Well have to try,
that's ALL"
NO" Stensgard interrupted.
otis impossible. Some of them
can't be moved. Leave us 10
rifles and we'll dig in there and
hold them until you get away"
Gunnar looked quick ly
around, and after moment
nodded. But then, realizing sud-
denly the full import of what
the doctor had proposed, he
stopped. you too? You're not
going with us? Doctor, are you
mad"
II stay with the sick, came
the muttered answer. do we
get the rifles?
"Of course"
Good luck, then" Stensgard
thrust out his hand.
On the north road the enemy
was coming forwa ard again.
There was no stopping them.
From door to door they came,
sending a murderous fire ahead
of them into the thin line fall
ing back. From the wharf peo-
pie were already pouring into
the boats.
Malken was with Gunnar the
w h ole time. "And from the
hills" he was saying, 1--WE can
come down. hitting at this gar
rison and that. Don't think We'ti