The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-23
CONTINUED from last issue)


Of burning powder. Bill Dale emptied
the magazine Of his repeater, and
sank behind the big chestnut to fill
it again with cartridges from his belt.
Bullets now whined ON both sides OF
him they cut greenish white burrows
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 MoreIand's strong voice
came to him through the din and roar:
Don't show, no part O. yoreself now,
Bill; eff We do, yen shore be hit!"
Dale tired again, pumped fresh
and slipped another into tie magazine,
and arose behind the chestnut.
Down, Bill" cried John Moreland.
If Dale heard, he gave no sign OF
it. lie fired four shots rapidly, and
before the wind had carried away the
tree and shooting toward the Balls
again. Soon there came n 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 q 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.
I'VE haven't any ammunition to throw
away!" ,.-., :.yY
"Why. Bill" replied Litteford.
didn't ye never bounce bullet often
Il rock and make it 60 toward man
ahind Of tree?"
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 it, 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.
Its about time to rush them," Dale
said to John Moreland, who had crept
up beside him.
Jest give the word" Moreland
nodded.
A few minutes later. Bill 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. kinsnen
wouldn't give m yet. They left their
cover and started to run, found them
selves facing Morelands and Little
fords III every direction, dubbed their
rifles and fought. 1t was not true
courage that prompted them to offer
resistance thus: it. was utter despera-
ton; they had never been givers of
mercy, therefore they did not expect
mercy Dale's men fOrebore to fire
upon them. which was at Dale's COM
mand, and met them with dubbed
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 for sur.
render from the winners.
Bill Dale, ever a lover Of fair COM
hat, threw down his repeater to Crap
pie with Il big North Carolinian 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 Bill Dale slack
ened his arms and lay as one dead.
He was lying under cover in n hand
carved black walnut fourposter, and
it 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:
"Deads-nothin' brilliantly. Look,
BEN; he's done come to! sYe couldn't
put him in "a cannon and, shoot him
ag inst Il cliff and kill him, Bent L
hope we're a-feelin' all right, Bill,
shore 49,. 4 a.
p Dale realized everything quite clear
~. He put hand to his head; there
was a wet cloth lying over the swollen
place.
"He shore give We buster Of
lick drawled voice that Dale in
stantly recognized as that OF his wnr-
shipper, BY Heck. DANCED Of Gale
Moreland didn't might nigh it beat
him to death, Billr'
Many men crowded to the bedside
and smiled at HIM, and he smiled back
at them Soon he asked:
! did you capture the outfit:" -
Every burned one Of EN-" answered