Page:The Russian Review Volume 1.djvu/138

116 rolling on. Suddenly the ruins burst into life. Machine guns splashed their hail of lead, and a shell or two fell into the midst of the German columns.

"The German became furious. They rushed to the remains of the fort, and turned back, met by a living wall of lead and fire. The heavy German guns began their booming Clouds of dust and broken stone surround the fort, which still speaks its language of fire. The officer reports the operations to the fortress:

" 'We are surrounded. Firing incessantly. They're falling fast. They've turned back. They are hammering our covers with heavy guns. The Germans are beginning their attack. Firing, firing, firing. We're mowing them down. How are things with you? We are waiting for you '

"A half-hour later, the officer reports again:

" 'They're hammering hard. The arches seem to hold out. Attacking us again. We've lots of ammunition. We are waiting for you "

"Another hour goes by.

" 'Everything around is strewn with bodies of Germans. They are all mad. Throw themselves on us like starved rats, and we shoot. Every shot tells.'

"A little later, the voice speaks excitedly:

" 'The Germans are flooding everything. We've no time to fire. We cut down ten, and twenty take their places. We mow down the twenty, and forty others are there already The Germans are in the fort. We are still firing at those in the field. They're trying to break through the roof  Can't hear anything  The Germans are piling rocks against our gun openings. We are still firing  Fire '

"The voice stopped short. The Germans were in full possession of the fort."