Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-10-20
Copyright. By Doubleday, Page . %.
CHAPTER xVIIl-continued.

t,ecame almost steady roar. The
air was filed with the pungent odor
of burning powder. Bill Dale emptied
the magazine of his repeater, ana
sank behind the big chestnut to fill
IT again with cartridges from his belt.
Bullets now whined on both sides OF
him; they cut greenish whit burrows
In the bark Of both sizes of the tree,
end knocked up little spurts of black
earth to his right and to his left;
they cut off twigs within an arms
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 a fresh
cartridge into the chamber of his rifle
and slipped another into the magazine
and arose behind the chestnut.
Down. BILL" cried John Moreiand.
II Dale heard, he gave no sign OF
IT. He fired four shots rapidly, ana
before the wind had carried away the
binding smoke he Was behind another
tree and shooting toward the bans
again. Soon there came short, loud
peal of laughter from his left; ne
turned his head and saw Ben Little
ford taking careful aim at a long
angle toward the side of boulder.
Then Ltttleford fired, and pun OF
stone dust showed that his bullet had
gone true TO its mark.
.sWhats that for?" demanded Dale.
1--WE haven't any ammunition to throw
away !"
''Why, Bill" replied Littleford.
s.etdn't We never bounce bullet often
rock and make 1t go toward man
ahtnd of a treei"
1t lasted holly. for two hours but
] - s4stsyasualties were comparatively
I. =. -. ABecNagse there was 50 much cover
available. From the beginning the
Balls and the Turner'S had the worst
of 1t. 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 fred too many
shots needlessly.
ats about time to rush them," Dale
said to John Moreland, who had crept
up beside him.
"Jest give the word" Moreland
nodded.
few minutes later, Bill Dale sent
the wings of his line down the noun
tainside, forming half-clrcle OF his
force once more; then the whole line
rushed. surrounded the enemy ana
called for surrender.
But the Balls and their kinsmen
wouldn't give in yet. 2They left their
cover and started to run, found them
selves facing Morelands and Little
fords i'm every direction, dubbed their
rifles and fought. 1t was not true
courage that prompted them to offer
resistance thus: it 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 dubbed
rifles. The woodland rang with the
sound of wood and steel crashing
against wood and steel. Everywhere
there we're groans and threats and
curses from the losing side, victorious
cries and further demands for sur
render from the winners.
Bill Dale, ever a lover Of fair COM
bat. threw down his repeater to Crap
p,e with a big North Carolinian whose
c,ubbed weapon had been knocked
from his hands. The two fell and
rolled down the mountainside, locked
in-each others arms.
And then one of the Balls struck
Bill Dale across the head with the butt
Of his empty gun. and Bill Dale slack
ened his arms and lay as one dead.
He was lying under cover in hand
carved black walnut fcurposter, and
II was night, when he opened his eyes
again. Above him he saw the bearded
foces of Ben Littleford and John
Moreland, and they looked haggard
and anxious in the oil lr.up's yellow
light Suddenly Moreland spoke:
.Dead-nothin'i jublantly. Look,
Rem: he's done come toi Ye couldn't
mt him in a cannon and shoot him
np'inst cliff and kill him. Benz |
hone ye'rc a-feelln' all right, Bill,
shore"
Dale realized everything quite clear
Is. He put hand to his head; there
was a wet cloth lying over the swollen
place.