The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-12-15
branches OF the tree, and laid him In
the boat at their feet.
CHAPTER XVI.
Daring the Elements.

&''t e@-~ &@f~ANf>f4NS-
"Give him drop of whisky. He il
not dead by any means"
"Raise him up-light in. boys, and
rub himl He is one of old Seadog' g
slaves, but he is human and We will
treat him as SUCH"
Thus spoke the men who had rescued
Dan Lapham from the floating timber.
They worked with him sometime be-
fore he was restored to a thorough con-
seriousness. The men knew him we'll
and treated him kindly, though they
now regarded him as a legitimate
prisoner of war"
Lapham was favorably known by all
OF the fishermen and boatmen Of the
river. His extraordinary strength gave
him prominence among the toilers OF
the river, while his courage and kind
ness gained for him their respect.
The hali-drowned fisherman received
the same care and attention as would
one OF their own number. One shared
a dry vest with him; another had an
extra rain coat and with this garment
and that he was soon warmly clad, and
with youth and reviving strength be
was soon himself again.
But the scenes were rapidly shifting.
Dawn was breaking and the approach
of the northsidsrs had been discovered.
The boats began to line up for the cap
tune OF the fishermen from the north
side who were supposed to be ignorant
of the presence of the southsideIs.
Dan Lapham Was placed in peculiar
position, but one common in war. He
was to sit side by side with the enemy
and receive the fire OF his friends. He
knew what his companions in the boat
did not know. He knew that the north
side fishermen were armed, and that
they would come prepared to do war
unto death. He knew that he would
soon be subjected TO their fire and that |
they would shoot to kill.
Closer and still closer the northsid- /
ers approached. They lined up through |
the gloom OF dawn like so many specks
on the river and bay. The southsiders
lay upon their oars with guns in hand.
To row down upon them and capture
them at given signal was the pre-
giously arranged plan.
The keen whistle of small launch
rang out over the water from the head
IF the southside hotilla and the little
ieet moved to the north under the
'teady strokes Of the oarsmen.
Bling" rang out rifle shot from
he north side.
bling Bingl Bingl" followed
Of shots from the came di-
ection.
The southsiders we're taken complete
y by surprise. They had come to
apture, not to fight. but now that the
rouble was on, it was left to them to
ght or to flee. The bitter feeling so
ong existing between the two stubborn
actions would not permit the latter
lteInative, and as If fro common
the southsiders raised their
lies and poured forth a volley in the
ERECTION of their competitors. This
as returned by heavy volley from
be north side, and then a desultoiy
ring began all along the line.
The fishermen were not accustomed |
, the use Of fire arms nor this manner |
warfare and it was better for them T
rat they were not. After the second
1lley the members OF each contending
ement began to fall back and the l
pats scattered in every direction.
But neither side would abandon the =
iuggle. 1t was the purpose OF the q
'uthsiders to destroy the traps, while s.
was the determination OF the north
ders to defend them to the last. u
At the very first volley from the north Of
rifle bullet struck the fisherman di- nj
city in front of Dan Lapham, the 10
ry man who had aided in resuscitat- In
g their captive. He was wounded in a:
e side and fell into Dam arms. Dan &C
gged them to pull for the island that
e wounded man might receive better 81
re. His request was granted, for the yC
hermen now were anxious for an ex- be
Sc to get out OF fight that was &C m
leh more real than they had ex- HI
cted. n,