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238 THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR
same fate befell a fresh attempt undertaken at
five o’clock. After dark a number of men suc-
ceeded in crossing the bullet-swept zone, and
reached the terre-plein of the fort. The Russians
met them hand-to-hand, and a terrible encounter
ensued, lasting for nearly two hours, fought with
the fiercest savagery. There was no wavering
nor weakness on either side. A single thought
filled the minds of the men :
Kill! kill! kill!
Hoarse, grunting sounds as from wild animals ;
clang of steel ; cracking of rifles and the sudden
crash of bursting grenades ;
meanings of wounded
men writhing in pain ;
reeking of blood ;
acrid
smell of perspiration of men in excitement ;
sweet,
sickly vapours of dynamite and pyroxyline, and
the smell of powder, which to a man is like spurs
to a horse, and goads him right on unto death.
Kill! kill! kill!
Hurl thy hand grenade into the thick of thy
enemies ! Nothing equals it for mangling, muti-
lating, tearing to pieces. Limbs and heads and
pieces of flesh fly about, and the warm blood
spurts in thy face.
Kill! kill! kill!
Thrust thy bayonet, bury thy blade deep in
quivering flesh ;
grasp the barrel of thy rifle with
powerful hands, swing it over thy head and brain
thine enemy with a crushing blow. Tear him
with nails, bite him with teeth, and strangle him
with sinewy fingers.
Kill ! kill ! kill
For two hours the struggle lasted ;
then the
two parties, tired to death, separated silently
as by a mutual agreement, and withdrew, the
Russians to the rear of the fort, the Japanese to
trenches which their sappers meanwhile had
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