The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-12-15
CHAPTER xvliI-continued.

air was filled with the pungent odor
OF burning powder. BIN Dale emptled
the magazine OF his repeater, and
sank behind the big chestnut TO fill
Il 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 I;
they cut or 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: ef ye do. yen shore be hltw
Dale fired again. pumped a fresh
cartridge Into the chamber OF his ride
and slipped another into the ma gazine.
and arose behind the chestnut.
Down. Bill !" cried John Moreland
IL Dale heard. he gave no sign OF
u. lie fired four shots rapidly. and
Before the wind had carried away the
blinding smoke he was behind another
tree and shooting toward the Balls
agnin- 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 Littleford fired. and a pun Of
stone dust showed that his bullet had
gone true TO Its mark.
whats that for?'' demanded Dale.
ave haven't any ammunition to throw
away,-
why, BILL" replied Llttleforl.
didn't ye never bounce bullet often
rock and make 1t so toward man
ahind Of a treeT
II lasted hotly 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 IL, 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.
TITS about time to rush them" Dale
said TO John Moreland. who had crept
up beside hlia.
'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-clrcle of his
force once more: then the whole line
rushed, surrounded the enemy and
called for n 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 their
rifles and fought. Il was not true
courage that prompted them to offer
resistance thus: II was utter deSperu-
tion; they had never been givers OF
mercy, therefore they did not expect
mercy. Dale's men forebore TO fire
upon them. which was al Dale's com.
mand. and met them with cluhbed
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 fof a sur
render from the winners.
Bill Dale. over a lover OF fair com
bat. threw down his repeater TO crap
Pile with a big North Carollnlan whose
cluhbed weapon had been Knocked
from his hands. The two fell and
rolled down the mountalnside. 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.
1.
He was lying under cover In hand.
carved black walnut fourposter. and
II was night, when he opened his eyes
again. Above him he saw the bearded
faces OF Ben Littieford and John
Morelahd, and they looked haggard
and anxious In the oil lamps yellow
light. Suddenly Moreland spoke:
"Desd-nothln' !" JubIlantly. Look,
Ben: hes done come tot Ye couldn't
put him In q cannon and shoot him
ax'inst a cliff and kill him. Benz I
hope ye're s-feelin' oil right. Bill.
shore
Dale realized everything quite clear.
". He put a hand TO his head; there
was q wet cloth lying over the swollen
place.
He shore give 70 . buster Of q
HEX" drawied q voice that Dale In,
stantiy recognized rs that Of his wor-
SAipes. tRg; Heck. DANCED ef Gale
Aoreland didn't might nigh II beat
Kim TO death. B1l r.
Many men crowded to the bedside
and smiled at him. ana he smiled back
~ fhem SnOn hp aSxsad.