others, clasping their little ones to them, knelt upon the
frozen ground and crossed themselves. Young men drew their newly-wed
mates to their breasts and kissed them with trembling lips. Stern,
hard-faced men, with great, knotted hands, grouped together and looked
out in deadly hatred at the heartless force surrounding them.

Then out from among them and across the ice went Carmen, up the
slippery hillside, and straight to the multi-mouthed machine gun, at
the side of which stood Major Camp. She had been all night with these
bewildered, maddened people. She had warmed shivering babes at her own
breast. She had comforted widows of a night, and newly-bereaved
mothers. She had bound up gaping wounds, and had whispered tender
words of counsel and advice. And they had clung to her weeping; they
had called upon Virgin and Saint to bless her; and they named her the
Angel of Avon--and the name would leave her no more.

"Take me," she said, "take me into court, and let me tell all."

The major fell back in amazement. This beautiful, well-clad girl among
such miserable vermin!

"You have demanded their leaders," she continued. "I have been trying
to lead them. Leave them, and take me."

The major's eyes roved over her face and figure. He could make nothing
out of her words, but he motioned to an aid, and bade him place the
girl under arrest.

A wild shout then rose from the shacks, as Carmen moved quietly away
under guard. It was the last roar of raging despair. The girl was
being taken from them! A dozen men sprang out and rushed, muskets in
hand, up toward the soldiers to liberate her. The major called to them
to halt. Poor, dull-witted creatures! Their narrow vision could
comprehend but one thing at a time; and they saw in the arrest of the
girl only an additional insult piled upon their already mountainous
injuries.

The major shouted a command. A roar burst from the soldiers' rifles.
It was answered by a shriek of rage from the hovels, and a murderous
return fire. Then the major gave another loud command, and the machine
guns began to vomit forth their clattering message of death.

At the sound of shooting, Carmen's guard halted. Then one of them
fell, pierced by a bullet from the strikers. The others released the
girl, and hurried back to the battle line. Carmen stood alone for a
moment. Bullets whizzed close about her.

One sang its death-song almost in her ear. Another tore through her
coat. Then she turned an