The spectator., 1922-04-11
CHAPTER xVIlI-Continued.

air was filled with the pungent odor 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 furrows 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, the Goliath. John Moreland's strong voice came to him through the din and roar:
 Don't show no part O yoresclf now. Bill ef ye do, yell 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 Moreland.
 If Dale heard. he gave no sign of it. He fired four shots rapidly. and before the wind had carried away the blinding smoke he was behind another tree and shooting toward the Balls again. 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 "a boulder Then Littleford fired, and puff of stone dust showed that his bullet had gone true to it's mark.
 What's that for?" demanded Dale. We haven't any ammunition to throw Away"
 "Why, Bill" replied LIttleford, didn't ye never bounce bullet offen q rock and make 1t go toward man ahind of q trec?'
 It 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 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 fired too many shots needlesSly.
 It's about time to rush them" Dale said to John Moreland, who hud crept up beside him.
 Jest give the word" Moreland nodded
 few minutes later B;ll 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 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 lords in every direction, cluhbed their rifles and fought. IL was not true courage that prompted them to offer resistance thus: il was utter deSpera- tion; they had never been givers of mercy. therefore they cid not expect mercy. Dale's men fcrebore to fire upon them, which was at Dale'S com mand, and met them with clubbcd rifles The woodland raag 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 sur render from the winners.
 Bill Dale. ever lover of fair com bat, threw down his repeater to srap- pie with big North Carolnia3 whose
  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 Bin Dale slack ened his arms and lay as one dead.
 
 He was lying under cover in hand carved black walnut fourposter, and 1t was night, when he opened his eyes again 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' jubllantly. Look. Ben; he's done come to! le couldn't put him in a cannon and shoot him ag inst clift and kill him, Ben I hope we're a-feeln' all right, Bin. shore"
 Dale realized everything quite clear k. He put hand to his head there was wet cloth lying over the swollen place.
 "He shore give ye buster of lick" drawled voice that Dale in- stantly recognized as that of his wor- shiper, Ky Heck. "panged ef Gale Moreland didn't might nigh it beat him to death, Bill!'
 Many men crowded to the bedside and smiled at him. and he smiled back It them. Soon he asked: