The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1922-01-12

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built ns lenn-to against that side OF
the shaft-house--and In that direction
we were necessarily blind. The fourth
side, as have said, faced an abrupt
clin OF the mountain, rocky wall
rising TO maybe twice the height Of
the buildings and almost overhang.
Ing them. At Its summit this cliff
topered of into a steep upward slope,
bare OF timber; hence we were com
paratlvely secure from attack In that
quarter.
As TO provisioning we were not so
badly of. Daddy Hiram, well used In
his long experience as prospector TO
figuring upon the longevity OF "grub-
stakes" estimated that, what with the
canned stun. part OF sack OF -four,
and another Of cornmsal. we could live
for a week, though the cooking was
going TO be rather lnconvenient. For
a fire we should have to resort to the
forge IN the blacksmith shop, and the
shop was nothing but an open-cracked
shed, as ! have described II, entirely
indefensible II the raiders should con-
clude TO rush Il.
In the fuiness OF time the period Of
suspense came to an end. and we were
given audible proof that Fullerton had
finally made his "dlspositlons." as an
army man would say. The announce
ment came In the form OF ride bullet
ripping through the roof OF the shaft
house as II the stout iron roofing had
been so much paper.
'The fun's a-beglnnin'," said Daddy (;
and the words were hardly out OF his
mouth before another bullet came, this
time from the opposite direction. and
II. also. tore through the roof.
SCOT us surrounded" Daddy grim
aced. when third shot came from still
another point OF the compass; and
within the next fifteen minutes Butler
tons demonstration was made COM
plete. The shots. fired one at time,
and at intervals Of a minute or so.
came from all three OF the exposed
slden OF the building, and the time
elapsing between the ripping crashes
on the roof and the crack OF the guns
told Us that the marlxsmen were all
well beyond the range of our Win
chesters. even II we could have seen
t..em-which we couldn't.
Fullerton had evidently given his
men orders 20 aim at the roof, for II
was only a stray bullet now and then
that came through the walls After a
time the purpose OF the bombardment
became obvious. Fullerton seemed 20
have absorbed the idea that he could
break our nerve-wear MS out. After
the first fuslllade the shots came at
intervals OF maybe five minutes; Just
often enough 20 keep Us on the strain ;
and don't mind admitting that the
object was handsomely gained. cant
speak for Daddy Hiram or the dog,
but nj the end OF the first hour was
little better than n bunch Of raw
nerves.
As all days must, this wearlsomt
first day came 60 an end at last. and
with the coming Of dusk the lombard
ment stopped-with our roof looking
like a sieve.
But after darkness had settled down
we were made 20 feel In another way
how acutely helpless we were. We
could see nothing, hear nothing
Though we knew we were surrounded
the silence and solitude were unbroken
and the strain was greater than that
OF pitched battle. II we were 70 get
any sleep at all, night witch could
be maintained by only one OF us at q
time; and with our utmost vigilance
a surprise attack would be the easiest
thing In the world for Fullerton TO pull
OF.
There are no night noises In the high
attitudes, unless the wind happens Il
be blowing; no frogs or tree-toads, nc
insects; and the silence was fairly
dcnfening-and maddening.
Not Wishing 10 strike a match to de
ternine the exact end OF my watch
period, l stuck II out, meaning to give
Daddy good measure. SO / think Il
must have been somewhere around ter
o'clock when the collie woke with q
start, jumped up. took the kinks out OF
his back with n little whining ynwn
and trotted 10 the door-the one open
Ing toward the cabin across the dunn
head. Screwing an eye TO one OF Dad
dy's auger-bored loopholea. l tried I,
fathOm the outer darkness, which wal
only degree or 30 less Egyptian thar
that OF the shaft-house interior.
Though could see nothing suspl
clous II was very evident that the dol
could hear something. lie had his nos,
10 the crack under the door and wa,
growing. quleted him and listened
Something was going on. either lnsld,
Of the cabin or back OF Il; IN the deat
silence could distinguish low muir
muir OF voices and. a moment later, q
sound like that which would be made
by the cautious opening OF one Of IN,
sliding windows. While ! siiil had ms
eye 10 the peep-hole Jet Of flame
spurted from the dark bulk Of the cab
In, and simultaneously bullet tore
through the shaft-house roof The
raiders had captured eur outworks
The report and the bullet clatteI
aroused Daddy Hiram, and when
| turned he was nj nv elbOW