Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-10-13
CHAPTER xVIII-continued.


the magazine of his repeater, and
sank behind the big chestnut to fill
1t again with cartridges from his belt
Bullets now whined on both sides of
him; they cut greenish whit burrows
in the bark of both siues of the tree,
and Knocked up little spurts of black
earth to his right and to his left !;
reach of him. A dozen Balls were
now firing at him, seeking to avenge
the death of their kinsman, the
Goliath. John Moreland's strong voice
came to him through the din and roar !:
Don't show no part O. yoreself now,
Bill; eff We do, ven shore be hit!
Dale fired again, pumped fresh
cartridge into the chamber of his rifle
ind slipped another into the magazine,
and arose behind the chestnut.
Down, Rill!" cried John MOreland.
If Dale heard, he gave no sign OF
It. He fired four shots rapidly. and
before the wind had carried away the
olinding smoke he was behind another
tree and shooting toward the Balls
again. Soon there came short, loud
peal of laughter from his left; he
turned his head and saw Ben Little
ford taking a careful aim at long
angle toward the side of boulder.
Then Llttleford fired, and a puff of
stone dust showed that his bullet had
gone true TO it's mark.
whats that for?" demanded Dale.
"We haven't any ammunition to throw
away"
"Why, BILL" replied Littleford,
didn't ye never bounce bullet often
rock and make it go toward a man
Rhind of a tree?"
1t lasted hotly fer two hours, bat
the casualties were comparatively
| few, because there was so much cover
available. From the beginning the
of it, which was due to uphill shoot
Ing. white whisky, and lack of the
iron that makes real fighting men,
The cartridges of those below were
giving out; they had fired too many
shots needlessly.
l
said to John Moreland, who had crept
up beside him.
"Jest give the word" Moreland
nodded.
A, few minutes later, Bill Dale sent
the wings of his line down the noun.
tainside, forming a half-circle of his
| force once more then the whole line
rushed, surrounded the enemy and
called for a surrender.
| But the Balls and their kinsmen
wouldn't give in yet. They left theli
cover and started to run, found them
selves facing Morelands and Little
fords in every direction, dubbed theiI
rifles and fought. 1t was not true
courage that prompted them to Offer
resistance thus: 1t was utter despera
ton; they had never been givers OF
mercy, therefore they did not expect
mercy. Dale's men forebore to fire
upon them, which was at Dale's com
mand, and met them with clubbet
-,fas. The woodland rang with the
soaT.1 cf wood and steel crashing
against wood and steel. Everywhere
there were groans and threats ant
curses from the losing side, victOriou:
cries sud further demands for i sur
rendcr from the winners.
Bill Dale, ever a lover of fair com
bat. threw down his repeater to crap
pie with big North CarOlinian whose
clubbed weapon had been knocked
from his hands The two fell anC
rolled down the mountainside, locked
II each others arms.
And then one of the Balls strucl
Bill Dale across the head with the but
of his empty gun. and Bill Dale slack
4ned his arms and lay as one dead.
He was lying under cover in a hand
carved black walnut fourposter, ant
It was night, when he opened his eye
sgain. Above him he saw the bearde,
faces of Ben Littleford and Johl
Moreland, and they looked haggar,
and anxious in the oil lf ~ups yellow
light. Suddenly MOreland spoke:
"Dead-nothin'! jubilantly. Look
Ben; he's done come to! Ye couldn'
put him in a cannon and shoot hin
ag'inst cliff and kill him, Ben!
hope ye're a-feelin' all right, Bill
shore"
Dale realized everything quite clear
". He put hand to his head; ther
was wet cloth lying over the swoIlel
place.
HE shore give ye a buster of
lick" drawled a voice that Dale In
stantly recognized as that of his wor
shipper, BY Heck. DANCED eff Cal
MoreIand didn't might nigh it bea
him to death, Bill"
Many men crowded to the bedsid
and smiled at him, and he smiled bac
at them. Soon he asked:
"Did you capture the outfit?"
EVERY burned one of 'em," answere
John Moreland. They're all shet u
tight In the downstairs o. the offic
buildin'. onder gyard. The amt bu
one of 'em plumb teetotalIy dead, fl
wonder; but the's a whole passeI O
'em hurt. I've done sent Luke to tow
on hossback, after a doctor fo' yo
J anu EOdul anu SittiC OAJ anu ue ed
tend to them crippled Balls, too,
reckon. eff you think it's best. What'r
we a-goin' to do with them fellers, Bill?
"We're going to take them to tn
Gainesville JAIL" Dale answere
promptly.
/. 81 had a different plan an tha
planned out, john" said By Heel
winking at Ben Littleford. Il had
planned out to hang 'em all on a bi
green hemlock as a Christmas tree fl
Bill! Some devilish rough Christina
eve ye're a-havin', Bill, old boy, ain
t?"
Rather smiled Dale. He close
lis eyes. His head ached, and he wa
;OmehOw very tired.
Within the hour he went to slee]
md when he awoke it was daylight O