The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-05-05
left Of the Mormons. Halt way, and

left OF the Mormono. 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 blindlysinto the arms Of
the ambush! A shrek of warning left
Nathaniel's lips. 1t was drowned in
a crash of rifle fire. Volley after vol
ley burst from that shadowy stretch
of plain. Before the furious fire the
a of the m~ainlanders crumpled into
ruin. Like chaff 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 a group of the
mainlanders running along the beach
toward the conflict. If he could only
the rear! Like the wind he sped to
cut them off, shouting and firing his
pistol. He won by a hundred yards
and stood painting as they came to-
ward him. Dawn had dispelled the
mist-gloom and as the ~mainlanders
drew nearer he discerned in their lead
a figure that brought a cry of Joy
from his lips.
"Neil!" he shouted. Neil"
He turned as Marion's brother
darted 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 were
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 Neil. For a little space the
AAA6 . "Sh saw "oy OOlOlo LuCu1 anu
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 Al clubs. A dozen more men
and they would have split like a
wedge through the Mormon mass.
Above the din Of battle Nathaniel's
voice ros In laundering shouts to the
men in the sea, and close beside him
he heard Neil s~hrieking 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 1t. 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 q {. 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. A crushing blow
fell upon him from behind and with q
last cry to Neil he sank under the
trampling feet Indistinctly there
came to him the surging shock of the
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 q
finger on his forehead. were all that
he heard of the steady rifle fire that
pursued the defeated m~ainlanders In
their flight.
After q 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 1t.
you won't have to carry him." he
heard q voice say. "Give him a little
water and he'll walk"
(To BE CoNTTNUED1