The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1921-10-21

Give EN- III, eoys!'
little too much Of himself-there wa
q sudden keen report from below, AM
q bullet hole appeared in the rim o
his hat! John MOreland fired the mex
shot. and he broke the right arm Q
the man who had just fired at Bill
Dale. This opened the battle in earn
est.
Soon the thunder of the many rife
became almost a steady roar. Tn,
air was filled with the pungent odO
OF burning powder. Bill Dale emptiet
the magazine Of his repeater, ant
sank behind the big chestnut to 81
II again with cartridges from his belt
Bullets now whined on both sides o
him they cut greenish white furrowI
IN the bark OF both sides of the tree
and Knocked up little spurt> Of blacl
earth 10 his right ana 10 his Jeff
they c,f on wigs within an arm,
uon Hruc az hin, ~rr+tr- T." ;.N"I
the death Of their k'n~man. the
Co dth. John Merchants strong voice
came to- him through the din aud roar:
Don't >iIow no part % yo!eSeif now.
Bill; ef ye DO. ven shore be hit ;"
Dale fired again, pumped a fresh
cartridge into the chamber of his rife
and slipped another into lHr magazine,
aud arose behind The chestnut.
"boWn. Fill :" cried John Moreland.
Ii Dale heard. he ave no sign OF
It. He tired four shots rapidly, and
before The wind had carried way 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 tie
turned his head and saw Ben Little
ford taking a careful aim al a long
angle toward the side OF a boulder.
Then I.ittlefOrd fired, and a pun of
stone dust showed that his bullet had
true to its mark.
whats that for?' demanded Dale.
We haven't any ammunition to throw
why. Bill" replied LittlefOrd.
didn't We never bounce q bullet often
a rock and make i, 60 toward a man
shind OF a rec"
Ii lasted holly for two hours, but
casualties were comparatively
because there was so much cover
available. From the beginning the
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
out they had fired too many
needleSsly.
ITS about time to rush them" Dale
said to John Moreiand, who had crept
Up beside him.
"Jest give the word" Moreiand
A few minutes later, Bill Dale sent
he wings Of his line down the noun
ainside, forming q half-circle of his
'orcs once more; then the whole line
surrounded the enemy and
allied for q surrender.
But the Balls and their kinsmen
give in yet. They left their
and started to run, found them !
elves facing Morelands and Little !
srds in every direction, dubbed their
f1es and fought. 1t was n o true !
Ourage that prompted them to offer
thus: it was utter despera-
lon; they had never been givers of
rercy, therefore they did not expect
mercy. Dale's men forebore to FIRE
pom them, which was at Dale's com
1and, and met them with dubbed
lies. The woodland rang with the
ound Of wood and steel crashing
gainst wood and steel. Everywhere
here were grOans and threats and
urses from the losing side. victorious
ries and further demands for a sur
ander from the winners.
Bill Dale, eve a lover Of fair COM
at. threw down his repeater to grap-
lie with q big North C%arolinian whose
ubbed weapon had been knocked
ON his hands. The two fell and
,lled down the mountainside. locked
each others rms.
And then n Of the Balls struck
Ill Dale across the head with the butt
his empty gun, and Bill Dale slack
he'd his arms and lay as one dead.
He was lying under cover in a hand
black walnut fourposter, and
was night, when he opened his eyes
Jain. Above him he saw the bearded
ces of Ben Littleford and John
.oreland. and they looked haggard
I'd anxious in the oil lamps yellow
yht. Suddenly MOreland spoke: