Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-09-29
CHAPTER xvIll-cOntinued.

became almost SJeduy EOdI. 1He
air was filed with the pungent door
Of burning powder. Bill Dale emptied
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 white burrows
in the bark of both sides of the tree,
and 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 ayenge
the death of their kinsman, the
Goliath. John Morelands strong voice
came to him through the din and roar
Don't show no part O. yoreself now,
Bill; eff We do, yell shore be hit"
Dale fired again, pumped fresh
cartridge into the chamber of his, rifle
and slipped another into the magazine,
and arose behind the chestnut.
"Down, Bill !" 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
binding smoke he was behind another
tree and shooting toward the Balls
again. Soon there came a 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 a boulder.
Then Littleford fired, and a puff of
stone dust showed that his bullet had
gone true to it's mark.
whats that for?" demanded Dale
1--WE haven't any ammunition to throw
away"
"Why, Bill" replied Littleford
didn't We never bounce bullet often
rock and make it go toward man
ahind of a tree"
1t lasted holly for two hours, but
the casualties were comparatively
few, because there was so much cover
available From the beginning the
Balls and the Turner's had the worst
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.
Its about time to rush Them" Dale
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 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 their
cover and started to run, found them
selves facing Morelands and Little.
fords In every direction, dubbed theil
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 a sur
render from the winners. @
Bill Dale, ever lover of fair com
bat, threw down his repeater to crap
pie with big North Carolinian whose
dubbed 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 fourposter. and
It was night, when he opened his eyes
again. Above him he saw the bearded
faces of Ben Littleford and John
MoreIand, and they looked haggard
and anxious in the oil lamps yellow
light. Suddenly Moreland spoke:
"Dead-nothln' r. jubllantly. Look,
Ben; he's done come toI Ye couldn't
put him in a cannon and shoot him
ag'inst a cliff and kill him, BEN /
hope ye're a-feelin' all right, Bill,
shore"
Dale realized everything quite clear
IS. he put a hand to his head; there
was wet cloth lying over the swollen
place.
IKE shore give ye buster Of a
lick" drawIed a voice thar Dale In
SANITY recognized as that Of his wor-
shipper. BY Heck DANCED ef Gale
Noreland didn't might nigh It beat
him to death. BUT"
Many men crowded to the bedside
ana smiled at him. and he smiled back
a. them. soon be asked;
.rr,fS rs, raufure the 0utfffH