The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-11-12


We sat there for half an hour dis
cussing the matter and endeavoring
to convince ourselves the danger was
less than we imagined. There was
nothing to be done but wait for day
light Finally Fox crept forth again
to make another round of the pfckets. |
to assure himself they were alert, and
before he returned had fallen asleep. |
The chill of the night awoke me,
cold and shivering. The wind had |
arisen and swept down the funnel in |
which lay with an icy breath against
which my single blanket afforded no
protection. The man who had been
lying next me was gone. and SO there
must have been change of guard
while | slept. could distinguish.
dimly outlined against the sky, the
overhanging rockwell which inclosed
our camp, and the deeper shade of a
cleft yard or two to my left, where
the dead trunk of tree stood like
gaunt. ugly sentinel
AS lay staring the figure Of man
slipped out from behind its protec-
ton and, dropping on hands and
knees. crept forward across the open
space. Another and another followed.
mere ghostlike shadows. scarcely APP
pearing real For the instant / doubt
ed my eyesight, imagined dreamed.
Then, before I could raise voice in
alarm. rife spat viciously, the red
| flame of its discharge cleaying the
night A fusillade followed and In the
! fare I caught grotesque glimpses OF
men leaping forward, and there was
confused yelling of voices. din of
noise.
I was upon my knees, revolver In
| hand, but in the melee below could
not distinguish friend from foe-alike
they were blur of figures, one in
slant visible. the next obscured Yet
there could be no doubt as to the final
ending of the struggle. Taken by sur
/ prise. outnumbered. the little squad OF
/ troopers would be crushed, annihilat-
ed Nor was there reason why
| should sacrifice myself in their defense
"a valueless sacrifice My choice was
instantly made, as there flashed to my
mind what my fate would be If
ever fell into Cowan's hands attired in
Federal uniform.
On hands and knees | crept to the
cleft in the rock wall and began to
Chamber up over the irregular rocks
The shouts and yells. the cries for
mercy. the sound of blows, grew faint
er and finally ceased altogether. Lean
ing back and looking down could per
ceive nothing in the black void. A
voice shouted an order, but 1t sounded
far OF and indistinct / was in g
narrow gully. the incline less steer
than amid the rocks below, and could
perceive the lighter canopy Of the sky
. not far above me.
AS | crept out into the open space
J someone touched match to pile o.
, dry limbs in the cove below. and the
red flames leaped high. revealing the
! scene. | caught glimpse Of it
staring down as though | chung at th'
| mouth of hell. seeing moving blacl
figures, and the dark, motionlesi
shadows of dead men. The on'
glimpse was enough. the fearful
, tragedy of 1t shifting me like blow
and turned and ran, stumbling Owe
J the rough ground. my only though
that of escape.
J There were stars in the sky, thei
/ dim light sufficient to yield some fain
guidance. My course led me clos,
, beside the edge of the ridge Her,
, the ground fell away to the banks o
i a shallow stream and some instinct o
a woodcraft led me to wade down witt
I it's current for a considerable distance
. until the icy water drove me to tn
bank once more. | knew | had GOV
cred several miles and was beyond pull
suit and safe from discovery | re
> NAMED there until dawn. the frs
i gray light giving assurance that M
! fight had been to the north along tn
! foothills. From the ridge top wild
a | vista lay revealed OF rough. seeming
: ly uninhabited country. growing NOR
4 distinct as the light strengthened
a There was no house visible. no sign o
= any road; all about extended rud
mountain solitude. but to the nortf
. west there was perceptible break i
the chain of hills. as though pass lie
o down into the concealed valley b'
h yond. With this for guidance
plunged forward. eager to get out c
|. that drear wilderness
1t was considerably after the moo
hour before | came upon disms
/ shack of logs in the midst of a sma
/ clearing. The light streaming
J. through the open door revealed that
Il was unoccupied Yet someone ha
r been there. and not so very long ag'
L for there we're scraps of food on on
d of the overturned boxes. Unappeti
e ing as these appeared. | sat down an
; ate heartily. then got TO my feet an'
Il closing the door securely behind M
d plowed through the tangle OF weed
s back to the road.
Just before shutdown | emerged frol
n the narrow gap and looked down int
the broad valley of the Green Bria
J. IL was scene to linger in the men
y DRY. and at my first glance kne
, | u,horo I u,aS racoSnizfnS tho 70 militia