American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1915-11-13

A LAIF OF CIVIL STRIFE Y.
HcRANDALL PARRISH Y
G7 zlz:';1zE S~&rcDpIloDES

now n twenty miles to the north OF
here"
We sat there for half an hour dis
GUESSING the matter and e~ndeavoring
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 plckets.
TO assure himself they we're 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 80 there
must have been q change Of guard
while ! slept. ] could distinguish,
dimly outlined against the sky. the
overhanging rockwell which inclosed
our camp. and the deeper shade of q
cleft a yard or two to my left. where
the dead trunk OF q tree stood like
a gaunt. ugly sentinel.
As ] lay staring the figure OF a 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 ap-
pearing real. For the instant | doubt.
ed my eyesight. imagined ! dreamed.
Then. before ! could raise voice in
alarm. a rife spat v~iciously. the red
fame OF It's discharge ~cleaving the
night. A fusillade followed and In the
Hare ! caught grotesque glimpses Of
men leaping forward. and there was
a confused yelling OF voices. a din of
noise.
was upon my knees. revolver In
hand, but In the melee below could
not distinguish friend from foe-alike
they were a blur OF figures. one In.
slant visible. the next obaeured. 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 I
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 n ]
fell Into Cowan's hands sttIred In
Federal uniform.
On hands and knees I 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 I could per.
ceive nothing In the black void. A
voice shouted an order. but It sounded
far on and indistinct. was In .
narrow gully. the incline less steep
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
someone touched q match to q pile Of
dry limbs In the w below. and the
red flames leaped high, revealing the
scene. caught q glimpse Of it
staring down as though | chung at the
mouth OF hellS seeing moving black
figures, and the dark. m~otionless
shadows Of dead lei The one
glimpse was enough. the fearful
tragedy OF It shifting me like a blow.
and ] turned and ran. stumbling over
the rough ground. my only thought
that OF escape.
There were stars In the sky. their
dim light sufficient to yield some faint
ntiHanna Nv nnnrQA laA ma ,lAaA
beside the edge OF the ridge Here
the ground fell away to the banks OF
a shallow stream and some instinct OF
woodcraft led me to wade down with
its current for a considerable distance.
until the Icy water drove me TO the
bank once more. ] knew | had GOV.
cred several miles and was beyond pur-
suit and s'.fe from discovery | re.
NAMED there until dawn. the FIRST
gray light giving assurance hat my
flight had been TO the north along the
foothills. From the ridge top a wide
vista lay revealed OF rough. seeming.
ly uninhabited country. growing more
distinct as the light strengthened
There was no house visible, no sign OF
any road; all about extended a rude
mountain solitude. but TO the north.
west there was a %perceptible break In
the chain OF hills, as though a pass led
down into the concealed valley be-
yond. With this for guidance |
plunged forward. eager to get out Of
that drear wilderness,
II was considerably after the Dor
hour before ! came upon a dismal
shack OF logs In the midst OF a small
clearing. The light streaming in
through the open door revealed that II
was u~noccupied Yet someone had
been there, and not so very long ago,
for there were scraps OF food on n
the overturned boxes. Unappetiz-
ing as these appeared. | sat down and
ate heartily. then got to my feet and,
the door securely behind me
through the tangle OF weeds
back to the road.
Just before shutdown | emerged from
narrow gap and looked down into
the broad valley OF the Green Briar.
Il was a scene to linger In the mem
Dry, and at my first glance | krew
! was, recognizing the fr