Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-07-28

Steve was determined. He took a tin
pail which had contained food and filled
it with water at spring not far away.
Then he carefully moved Kenton over
to the south side Of the camp, propped
him up at loophole in sitting posi-
ton and sat down beside him to wait.
i've figgered this out bit, he said
as he peered through his loophole for
sign of danger. IF them chaps had
found yo' at the house, yo'd hev bin
carried off to camp. Bein as they'll
find yo' yere, and bein as thar'll be a
font, thar won't be no carryin away if
they git the better of us!''
lyon mean they'll kill me here and
have done with it!' replied Kenton.
Exactly, and me too! Then thar
won { be any charges, witnesses or trial.
They'll report that we fit to the last
and it will be all plain sailin fur them
as wants rs outer the way. Thar fore,
in shootin we'd better jest shoot to kill
and git all the revenge we kin. Steady.
now. / think the critters hev smelt us
| out!''
Half mile up the road from Rest
and divided into two parties to search
the hills on each side of the highway.
Steve had caught sight of two or three
men moving toward the camp through
| the scrub.
Il won t shoot to kill-not this timer
he whispered as he thrust the barrel of
the carbine through the opening. IN
jest fling bullet down thar to let 'em
know that the Confederate Yankee army
has had breakfast. pulled its boots on
| and is ready fur bizness!''
His shot was followed by yell which
announced to the other party that the
| fugitives had been discovered, and 10
minutes later the camp was surrounded.
Among the enemy was man who had
seen Royal kcnton fall when fired upon,
and it was therefore known that he was
wounded. How far he was disabled.
| however, could only be guessed at
Steve Erayton was known to be with
him, and Steve was also known to be a
| fighter. 1t was Therefore decided not to
| open fire until other means had been re-
| sorted to and failed. Thirty minutes
| after the first appearance of the enemy
a flag of truce was shown among the
scrub. and the bearer cautiously ad-
vanced until within hailing distance.
His advance was from the south side,
and both men had him under their eyes.
1t was Ike Baxter, and he halted about
pistol shot away and called out:
Hello, mp thar! l want to speak tc
| yo' uns bout minit!"
| WAL, fire off yo'r BREATH replied
Steve.
| I'VE uns has dun clean surrounded
yo' uns, and yo'd better give in!''
| "Yes?n
| eff yo' uns will give in, nobody will
be hurt. If yo' uns don't give in, We
uns ar bound to wipe yo' out! We I'M:
is hundred strong, with two cannonsr
THAT yo', Ike Baxter" called Steve
as if doubling the others identity.
| Yes
WAL. I've got my gun pinted fur ,
shot right betwiXt yo'r doggone eyes
and if yo' hain't back thar among vol
gang befo' count 10 I'll pull trigger
If yo' want us, cum and git us!''
Five minutes later fire was opened OF
the fort from all around the circle, ant
the enemy We're shouting and cheering
as if a victory had already been nearly
won. While most of their bullets flew
clear over the piled up rocks, .thos'
which were better aimed did no damag,
whatever. Not a shot was fired in re
ply. kenton s position caused him con
siderable pain, and Steve removed tn,
prop from his back and laid him dow
with the remark:
They uns will keep Dustin away flu
half an hour yit, and we uns kin TAX,
things easy. I reckon the firin vii
make the gal a bit Uneasy, but it II alst
hurry up the Yankees in case they ar
on the way
That's what we must hope for, an
swered Kenton, ''but watch out that W,
are not taken by surprise"
The firing attracted the attention of
party of seven or eight guerrillas wht
were hunting for the fguitlves on thei
own account, and they came up ant
Joined forces with the larger body
The entire force then numbered, as nea
as could be estimated by the firing
about % men. All they could hope t,
gain by their blazing away as they di,
was that stray bullet might find tar