But nothing could stop them.

I felt within me the strength of ten men; the carbine stock shattered, I swung the iron barrel, striking until it bent in my hands.

I was dazed by a blow in the face, blood trickled into my eyes where a bullet had grazed my forehead, one shoulder smarted as though burned by fire, yet it never occurred to me to cease fighting.

Again and again the men rallied to my call, devils incarnate now, only to have their formation shattered by numbers.

We went back, back, inch by inch, slipping in blood, falling over our own dead, until we were pinned against the wall.