The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-12-23
CHAPTER xvIiI--continued.

air was filed with the pungent odor
OF burning powder. Bill Dale emptied
the magazine of his repeater, and
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 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 avenge
the death Of their kinsman, me
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, yell shore be hitl !"
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 M%Oreland.
If Dale heard, he gave no sign Of
1t. 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 a long
angle toward the side Of a boulder.
Then Littleford fired, and q puff Of
stone dust showed that his bullet had
gone true to its mark.
whats that for7'' demanded Dale.
I'VE haven't any ammunition to throw
awayi"
"Why, BILL" replied LittIeford,
didn't We never bounce a bullet often
q rock and make 1t 60 toward a man
ahind of a tree?"
II 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 1t, which was due to uphill shoot
ting. 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.
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 a half circle Of his
force one 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
v and started to run, found them
selves facing Morelands and Little
fords In 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 mel them with dubbed
rifles. The woodland rang with the
sound Of wood and steel crashing
against wood and steel. Everywhere
there were groans and threats and
curses from the losing side, victorious
cries and further demands for a sur
cender from the winners.
Bill Dale, eve q lover of fair COM
bat. threw down his repeater to Crap
pie with a 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 or the Balls struck
Bill Dale across the head with the butt
OF his empty gun. ind Bill Dale slack
ened his arms and lay as n dead.
he was lying under cover In a hand
carved black walnut fourposter, and
It was night. when he opened his eyes
Sgain. Above him he saw the bearded
faces Of Ben Littleford and John
Moreland. and they looked haggard
and anxious In the Oil lamps yellow
light. Suddenly Moreland spoke:
"Dead--nothin'!" jubilantly. Look,
Ben; he's done come to! Ye couldn't
put him In a cannon and shoot him
hg'.nst a cliff and kill him, Ben! 1
hope ye're a-feelin' all right. Bill,
shore"
Dale realized everything quite clear
~. He put a hand 10 his head; there
was a wet cloth lying over the swollen
place.
HE shore give We a buster Of a
Tick" drawled q voice that Dale In
stantIy recognized as that Of his wor-
shipper, BY Heck. DANCED eff Gale
Moreland didn't might nigh II beat
aim to deatn. BIZ"
Many men crowded TO the bedside
md smiled al him. md he smiled back
~ tllcm Sooa he asked
Is s.as capture the outiit?"