The spectator., 1922-04-07

tHc IuOuutdillS. OnCe HIS N0SClenC0 asked him . question-and he an- swered 1t with another question. Was he doing that which was right? Might not the Littlefords all be killed by those drunken cutthroats while he was waiting for the arrival of com pany of militia from city miles dis tant?
 Anyway, the militia would fight. His clan would do no more than that. He satisfied his conscience quickly.
 When they had reached the lower end of the cleared valley, there came to them the sounds of slow firing, the firing of snipers. Each man kicked his horses Hanks and rode faster.
 When they came in sight of the be- sieged building. they saw puffs of pow der-smoke rising lazily from the upper windows and from the mountain side above and to the right. Again they kicked the Hanks of their horses and rode faster
 At John MorelanSs old cabin they dismounted hastily and turned their horses into the drab meadow. With Dale still leading, they hurried on foot to the rivers nearest bank and went rapidly, under cover of the thickly- standing sycamores, to point within seventy yards of the office and SUD- plies building. Then they made dash across the open space. and Ben Lit tleford, with one arm bound up in red-stained blue bandana, opened the door for them.
 'Who else Is hurt?" panted Dale.
 Little Tom," answered Littleford, "and Saul. Little Tom, he got a bull let onder the shoulder. Saul, he got one in might nigh the same place. They've riddled the whole t'other side O the house to splinters. They're a-callin' fo' you"
 They'll get all they want of me-" Dale growled
 He turned and ran up the rough stairway, and Ben Littletord and the MOrelands followed close upon his heels. At the front and side windows, behind anything they had been able to find that would stop bullet, knelt Littlefords with rifles in their hands, to appear on the mOuntainside above. Saul and Little Tom lay in corner. where they were fairly safe from chance bullets. Hayes had bound up their wounds as we'll as he could with the material at hand. They were hn1 nd t,6n but still full of the old Littleford fighting spirit.
 Dale seized his Winchester and belt of cartridges from the hands of the man who had brought them to him, and turned to the others. X bull let crashed through the wall and struck the floor at his foot; he paid no attention to 1t.
 Listen to me, boys" Dale was buckling his cartridge-belt with rapid, steady fingers. From where they are hiding, the Balls and Turner's can hardly see the lower story of this building. We'll go downstairs, open the front door, and run to the edge of the laurels at the foot of the moun- tain. Then we'll turn to the right, make wide detour, and get above the Ball outfit; we'll be fighting down. hill instead of uphill. Get me? Are you all ready?"
 To man. they were ready.
 They reached the thick under growth without being seen by the en- emy. While the Balls and Turner's fired more or less aimlessly at the building, drank white whisky and called drunkenly for the surrender to them of Bill Dale, Bill Dale and his men were making their way steadily in wide half-circle up the side of David Moreland's mountain.
 Half an hour after they had left the office building. Dale had stationed his men, deployed as line of skirmishers, behind sheltering trees some two hun dred feet above the Balls and their kinsmen.
 John Moreland, Ben Littleford and Bill Dale were not far apart. Its q shame to do it." said Dale T swear, we can't shoot men in the back like thisi"
 John Moreland twisted his mouth into queer smile of contempt, and so did Ben Littleford. They knew. far better than their leader. the ways of that people without principle. The Balls and Turner's wouldn't hesitate to shoot them in the back
 Well" John Moreland replied, and it was almost a sheer. "ye might go down thar and give 'em some candy, and kiss 'em. and ax 'em won't they please surrender"
 Dale leaned around his tree a great gnarled chestnut, and called boldly:
 You've got a chance to surrender now-and you'd certainly better take nnipl.