The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1911-02-15


\ Of what It all meant came to him. the
fighting blood In his veins leaped at
the sight of 1.-THE pretended effect
Of the shots from sea, the sham con-
fusion. the disorderly flight. the won
derful quickness and precision with
which the rabble Of armed men had
thrown itself into ambush
Would the mainlanders rush into
the trap? Had some keen eye seen
those shadowy forms dropping
through the mist? Each instant the
ghostly pail that shut out vision sea-
ward seemed drifting away. Nathan
iels staring eyes saw a vague shape
appear in It. an indistinct dirt-gray
boat. Another followed. and then an
other: he heard the sound of oars.
the grinding of keels upon the sand.
and where the Mormons had been a
few moments before the beach was
now alive with mainlanders. In the
growing light he could make out the
kings men below him. inanimate spots
in the middle OF the narrow plain.
Helpless he stood clutching his pistol.
the horror in him growing with each
breath. Could he give no warning7
Could he do nothing-nothing-
At least he could Join in the fightl
He ran down the hill. swinging to the
left of the Mormons. Half way. and
he stopped as q laundering cheer
swept up from the shore. The main
landers had started toward the hill!
Without rank. without order-shout-
ing their triumph as they came they
we're rushing blindly into the arms OF
the ambush! A shrek of warning left
Nathaniers lips. It was drowned in
a crash of rifle fire. volley after vol
ley burst from that shadowy stretch
Of plain. Before the furious fire the
van Of the mainlanders crumpled into
ruin. Like char before a wind those
behind were swept back. Apparently
they were flying without waiting to
fire a shot! Nathaniel dashed down
into the plain. Ahead Of him the Nor
mons were charging in a solid line.
and in another moment the shore had
become a mass of fighting men. Far
to the left he saw group of the
mainlanders running along the beach
toward the conflict II he could only
intercept them-and bring them into
the rear! Like the wind he sped to
cut them on. shouting and firing his
pistol. He won by a hundred yards
and stood painting as they came to-
ward him. Dawn had dispelled the
mfst-gloom and as the mainlanders
drew nearer he discerned In their lead
a figure that brought q cry OF Joy
from his lips.
NELL" he shouted. Nell
He turned as Marion's brother
Iarted to his side.
This way-from behind!"
The two led the way. side by side.
followed by a dozen men. A glance
told Nathaniel that nothing much less
than a miracle could turn the tide of
battle. Half of the mainlanders were
fighting In the water. Others we're
struggling desperately to get away in
the boats. Foot by foot the Mormons
were crushing them back. their battle
cries now turned into demoniac yells
Of victory. Into the rear OF the strug-
Cling mass. firing as they ran. charged
the handful OF men behind Captain
Plum and Nell. For q little space the
kings men gave way before them and
with wild cheers the powerful fisher
men from the coast fought their way
toward their comrades. Many OF them
were armed with long knives: some
had pistols: others used their empty
rifles as clubs. A dozen more men
and they would have split like q
wedge through the Mormon mass.
eHa -
voice rose In laundering shouts to the
men in the sea. and close beside him
he heard Nell shrieking out a name
between his blows. Like demons
they fought straight ahead. slashing
with their knives. The Mormon line
was thinning. The mainlanders had
turned and were fighting their way
back. gaining foot by foot what they
had lost. Suddenly there came a ter
rife cheer from the plain and the hope
that had famed In Nathaniel's breast
died out as he heard It. He knew what
It meant-that the Mormons at ST.
James had come to reinforce their
comrades. He fought now to reach
the boats. calling to Neil. whom he
could no longer see. Even In that mo-
ment he thought Of Marion. His only
chance was to escape with the others.
his only hope OF wrestling her from the
kingdom lay In his own freedom. He
had waited too long. crushing blow
fell upon him from behind and with a
last cry to Nell he sank under the
trampling feet. Indistinctly there
came to him the surging shock Of tho
fresh body Of Mormons. The din
about him became fainter and fainter
as though he was being carried rapid
ly away from 1t: shouting voices came
to him in whispers, and deadened
sounds. like the quick tapping Of a
finger on his forehead. were all that
he heard OF the steady rife fire that
pursued the defeated mainlanders in
their flight
After little he began struggling back
into consciousness. There was a split
ting pain somewhere in his head and
he tried to reach his hand to It.
You won't have to carry him. he
heard a voice say. Give him q little
water and he'll walk"
CTo BE coNTINUED)