The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-01-20

tween us and the boiler shed-it was
built as a lean-to against that side Of
the shaft-houseand In that direction
we were necessarily blind. The fourth
side, as have said, faced an abrupt
cliff of the mountain, a rocky wall
rising to maybe twice the height of
the buildings and almost overhang-
ing them. At its summit this cliff
tapered off into steep upward slope,
bare of timber; hence we were COM
paratively secure from attack In that
quarter.
As to provisioning we were not 80
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 eognmasl, we could 1--we
for a week, though the cooking was
going to bs rather inconvenient For
fire we should have to resort TO the
forge In the blacksmith shop, and the
shop was nothing but ain epen-craeked
shed, as I have described ii, entirely
indefensible II the raiders should con
ciude TO rush Ii.
In the fulness OF time the period Of
suspense came to an end, and we were
given audible proof that Fullerton had
finally made bis dispositions as an
army man would say. The announce
ment came In the form OF a rife bullet
ripping through the roof Of the shaft
house as IL the stout iron roofing had
been so much paper.
"The fun's a-begnnin'," 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.
@Got "a SURROUNDED" Daddy grim
aced, when third shot came from still
another point OF the compass: and
within the next fifteen minutes Butler
toms demonstration was made COM
plete- The shots, fired one at q time,
and at intervals OF a minute or so,
came from all three of the exposed
sides OF the building, and the time
elapsing between the ripping crashes
on the roof and the crack Of the guns
told US that the marksmen were all
well beyond the range Of our Win
chesters, even II we could have seen
tlem-which we couldn't.
Fullerton had evidently given his
men orders to aim at the reof, for 1t
was only stray bullet now and then
that came through the walls After a
time the purpose Of the bombardment
became obvious. BuIlerten seemed to
have absorbed the idea that he could
break our nerve-wear US out. After
the first fusillade the shots came at
intervals Of maybe five minutes; Just
often enough to keep us on the strain
and I don't mind admitting that the
object was handsomely gained I cant
speak for Daddy Hiram or the dog,
but at the end of the first hour was
little better than bunch Of raw
nerves.
AS all days must, this wearisome
first day came TO an end at last, and
with the coming OF dusk the lombard.
ment stopped-wfth cur roof looking
Hike sieve.
But after darkness had settled down
we were made to feel In another way
how aeuteIy 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. IL we were to get
any sleep at all. a night watch could
be maintained by only one Of us at a
time: and with our utmost vigilance
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 to
be blowing no frogs or tree-toads, no
insects; and the silence was fairly
deafenins-and maddening.
Not wishing to strike a match 30 de-
terntne the exact end Of my watch
period, stuck It out, meaning to give
Daddy good measure So think II
must have been somewhere around ten
O'Clock when the collie woke with a
start, jumped up, took the kinks sut OF
his back with little whining yawn,
and trotted 10 the door-the one open
ing toward the cabin across the dunap
head. screwing an eye 70 one Of Dad
dy's auger-bored ioopho4ez, / tried te
fath8m the outer darkness, which was
only degree or 30 less Egyptian thaA
that Of the shaft-house interior.
Though ! could see nothing srsp4-
etous 1t was very evident that the dog
could hear something. he had his nose
to the crack under the deer and was
growing. I Quteted him and listened
Something was going on either inside
of the cabin or back Of II; In the dead
silence could distinguish low muir,
muir OF yeices and, q moment later, a
sound Hike that which would be made
by the cautious opening OF one OF the
sliding windows. While still had nv
eye to the peep-hole q Jet Of flame
spurted from the dark bulk Of the cab
in. and simultaneously bullet tore
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