The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-01-27

Another hour and the Mormon king
dom would be at the mercy of the
avenging host from the mainland
and Marion would be his own for
ever! He heard again the deep rum
bile OF heavy gun and from its sullen
defamation he knew that 1t was fired
from ship at sea A nearer crash Of
returning ire turned him into a de-
serted street down which he ran wild.
ly. on past the last houses Of the
town, until he came to the foot Of q
hill up which he climbed more slowly,
painting like q winded animal.
From its top he could look down
upon the scene Of battle. To the east
ward stretched the harbor line with
Its rim OF fires. A glance showed
him that the light was not to center
about these. They had served their
purpose had forced the mainlanders
to seek a landing farther down the
coast The light Of dawn had already
begun to dispense the thick gloom of
night. and an eighth of a mile below
Nathaniel the Mormon forces were
creeping slowly along the saore. The
pale ghostly mistiness of the sea hung
like curtain between him and what
was beyond. and even - he strained
his eyes to catch a glimpse of the
avenging f-eta vivid light leaped out
Of the white distance, followed by the
thunder OF csnnon. He saw the head
OF the Mormon line falter. In an In.
slant 1t had been thrown into con-
fusion. A second shot from the sea
a storm Of cheering voices from out
OF that white chaos of mist-and the
Mormons fell back from the shore in
a panic-stricken. fleeing mob. Were
those frightened towards the fierce
fighters of whom he had heard SO
much? Were they the men who had
made themselves masters of q king
dom in the land of their enemies-
whose mere name carried terror for q
hundred miles along the coast? He
vas stupefied. bewildered. He made
10 effort to conceal himself as they
approached the hill, but drew his pis-
tol, ready to fire down upon them as
they came. Suddenly there was a
change. So quickly that he could
1carcely believe his eyes the flying
Mormons had disappeared. Not a
man was visible upon that narrow
plain between the hill and the sea.
Like a hdge covey of quail they had
dropped to the ground, their rifies lost
in that ghostly gloom through which
the voices Of the mainlanders came
in fierce cries of triumph. II was mag
nificent! Even as the crushing truth
of what 1t all meant came to him, the |
fighting blood in his veins lsaped at
the sight OF 1.-THE pretended effect |
OF the shots from sea. the sham con- |
fusion, the disorderly fight. 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
iel's staring eyes saw a vague shape |
appear in II, an indistinct dirt-gray |
blotch. and he knew that II was a
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 warning! |
Could he do nothing-nothing-
At least he could join In the fight, |
He ran down the hill. swinging to the |
left Of the Mormons. Half way. and |
he stopped as laundering cheer |
swept up from the shore. The main |
landers had started toward the hill!
Without rank, without order-shout- |
ing their triumph az they came they |
were rushing blindly into the arms of |
the ambush! A shrek Of warning left |
Nathaniel's lips. II was drowned in
crash Of rife 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 chan before q wind those
behind were swept back. Apparently
they were flying without waiting to
fire a shot! Nathaniel dashed dr~~n |
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 a grcup 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 q hundred yards |
and stood painting as they came to- |
ward him. Dawn had disvelled the |
mist-gloom and as the m..inlanders |
drew nearer he discerned In their lead |
figure that brought q cry Of Joy
from his lips.
NELL" he shouted Nell