Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-01-22

our PROVISIONS scanty store, that stood
In Immediate need of replenshng. Then
we held a council Of war.
IF they are wise" said Rodney,
they'll settle down to besiege MS. 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 II this IL a 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 "therell be no more swim
ming done. They're going to guard us
from the ocean,"
Then Rodney spoke up. Perhaps I
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" I suggested. "How-
ever. It's worth try. Charles stays on
guard and I go with you"
| SO, little later, the two of US, having
AN eye that the men In the sail-boat
should not rec 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
unha mpered by the other, advanced west
ward. had an impression of what It
must be to march across 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 I saw q light cloud Of smoge steal
away from the dunes. An instant's 81
lence, another report, and furrow was
ploughed 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 II no
longer.
!, ~Come out and show yourselves like
men !" he cried, his voice high-pitched and
! straining. An instant's pause, and then
two men leaped forward.
Islip's pistol cracked. then another man
J Joined the two. and as by instinct we
: separated.
Then began a running fire while we
: beat retreat. I kept close as I could
} to the water, emptying my revolver In
such a way as to retard the enemy with
out wounding them; for we suspected
| t.xtl Iok-
! 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 reiterated while they
. advanced, and II was only by taking full
speed to my heels and making for tn,
> rocks that won temporary respite TIL,
g enemy stopped. and now we could peppc,
them, shooting to right and left as fas
Z as we loaded
. l glanced backward, and saw the sail
boat very close-much closer than
n liked.
They're going to board the ShipT
y cried, and splashed into the water.
: tumbled up the side and made for tn
farther bulwark. calling to DuponceaI
and Charles to stir themselves. AS di,
20 two men came scrsmbling over tn
| outer rOCks ana InAue IOl tho 0nip, Wnll
third held the sail-boat to the shore.
b heard shouts, and saw Rodney cross be
a side me. He stood q moment unprotected
d and that instant a bullet took him In tn
- arm and / heard him give a cry Of pain
L 'Its nothing scratch on the flesh,
IT he muttered as he crouched.
10 The two men were climbing the ssa
\ ward side. waited. and as the nrs
"A 4 I'm, NJ III
y all thu force In my body hurled him bach
N so that he lost his hold and fell splnshinI
o. The other was balancing, had one foo
p over, had sprung, when Duponcsau an
Charles seized him. and he went, leg
d swinging In a circle, beside his fellow
y the sea
D. We crouched, for the man In the boa
II wss firing. The two below scra mbls
h out OF the waves and scurried back
ID the sail-boat Then Rodney and Dupor
st cesu kept that side of the Ship, Will
is Charles and l watched the other. Their
ID were a few more scattering shots, the
= the enemy made of.
In Tina we left Charles on guard an
a WENT down to the cabin. while Dupor
: ceau examined and bandagsd Rodney
~ arm. Rodney was right II was merely
w hesh-wound In his forearm, but, slight q
r II was, II seemed to turn him into GU
~ hero. Ii was the FIRST blood OF tina WA
n When the wound was attended to v
;. went ON deck, all Of us aqulver with "
"A element, and there we four sat, each wit
"a pistol In his hand, aud warm bioo
or beating In bis veins.
Noon came, and we lunched on scrap,
ID and tried to make out on smoking man
OF pipefuls OF tobacco. The sun slowl
be crossed the western heavens and con
mencsd TO drop. Suddenly l discovers
10 that I was parchsd with thirst
In water, water everywhere, and not
drop TO drink There's no use disgui
Oh Ing 1t any longer we'll be caught he's
like rats in a trap said. "Wsd bstts
get away before We fall to eating hors.
%. leather"
~ at - ai. n 49, - Ia ,