Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-01-21
powers that want to do what I ha

our provisions-a scanty store, that stood
In Immediate need Of replenishing. Then
we held a council Of war.
IF they are wise," said Rodney,
they'll settle down to besiege us. They
could starve us out of here In forty-eight
hours. I've an idea, however, that they're
afraid to do that for fear of legal conse-
quences. take 1t this is purely per-
sonal fight"
l had the same thoughts; some French
enemies of Duponceau's were trying to
kidnap him, had been my conclusion.
Look |" Duponceau was standing, and
we followed his gaze and saw sail-boat
my sailboat-round the cliff to the west
and lie to in the open sea. mot that
way" he said; "there'll be no more swim
ming done. They're going to guard us
from the ocean,"
Then Rodney spoke up. Perhaps
can get across the beach to the cottage
and bring some of the timed meats back"
UNLESS they have confscated my house
as well as my boat" suggested. How
ever, it's worth a try. Charles stays on
guard, and go with you"
So, little later, the two of us, having
an eye that the men In the sail-boat
should not see us, lowered ourselves over
the side, and waded waist-deep through
the water. We crawled up the rocks and,
lying low, peered through breaks at the
beach. There was nothing but shining
sand between our position and the house.
Carefully we stole over the rocks and,
separating slightly, so that each might be
unhampered by the other, advanced west
ward. had an impression of what 1t
must be to march across a desert In the
face of an unseen foe. Only, we did not
have the protection of the desert, for there
were dunes above us on the right.
We had gone perhaps halfway when
the silence rang with a shot. A little
furrow blew up in the sand. before me,
and 1 saw q light cloud Of smoge steal
away from the dunes. An instants ST.
lence, another report, and a furrow was
plouEhed In the sand ten yards to the
rear. We were hemmed in by an unseen
ring.
We faced to the dunes, standing stock
still. Two more guns cracked, and the
bullets sped in the air, above our heads,
but not so far that we could not hear
them sing. Rodney could stand 1t no
longer.
"Come out and show yourselves like
men !" he cried, his voice high-pltched and
straining. An instant's pause, and then
two men leaped forward.
Islip's pistol cracked, then another man
Joined the two, and as by instinct we
separated.
Then began a running FIRE while we
beat a retreat. kept close as 1 could
to the water, emptying my revolver In
such a way as to retard the enemy with
out wounding them; for we suspected
that they were seeking to intimidats us,
without actually resorting to bloodshed,
and we, for our part, had no desire to
have any deaths on our hands. They
gained on us, for we retreated while they
advanced, and 1t was only by taking full
speed to my heels and making for the
rocks that won temporary respite. The
enemy stopped, and now we could pepper
them, shooting to right and left as fast
as we loaded.
glanced backward, and saw the sail
boat very close-much closer than
liked.
They're going to board the ShipP' I
cried, and splashed into the water. I
tumbled up the side and made for the
farther bulwark, calling to Duponceau
and Charles to stir themselves. AS did
so two men came scrambling over the
outer rocks and made for the Ship, while
a third held the sail-boat to the shore.
heard shouts, and saw Rodney cross be-
side me. He stood a moment unprotected,
and that instant a bullet took him In the
arm and 1 heard him give cry Of pain.
tits nothing scratch on the flesh, F"
he muttered as he crouched.
The two men were climbing the sea-
ward side. l waited, and as the first
reared above me l was on him and with
all the force In my body hurled him back,
80 that he lost his hold and fell splashing.
The other was balancing, had one foot
over, had sprung, when Duponceau and
Charles seized him, and he went, legs
swinging in a circle, beside his fellow in
the sea.
We crouched for the man In the boat
was firing. The two below scrambled
out Of the waves and scurried back to
the sall-boat. Then Rodney and Dupon-
ceau kept that side of the Ship, while
Charles and watched the other. There
were a few more scattering shots, then
the enemy made off.
In time we left Charles on guard and
went down to the cabin, while Dupon-
ceau examined and bandaged Rodney's
arm. Rodney was right; it was merely a
desh-wound In his forearm. but, slight as
1t was, 1t seemed to turn him into our
hero. 1t was the first blood of the war.
When the wound was attended to we
went on deck, all Of us aquiver with en-
element, and there we four sat, each with
a pistol in his hand, and warm blood
beating in his veins.
Noon came, and we lunched on scraps,
and tried to make out on smoking many
pipefuls Of tobacco. The sun. slowly
crossed the western heavens and COM
menced to drop. Suddenly 1 discovered
that was parched with thirst.
"'Water, water everywhere, and not a
drop to drink There's no use disguis-
ing 1t any longer; Wen be caught here
like rats in trap" said. WED better
get away before we fall to eating horse
leather"
, II have plenty of water and food in
, my house. tn stand a good long siege
/ If any Of those rascAls are living In it