The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-03-25
CHAPTER VII-Continued

Selwood, approaching the high shut
tered window on the north side of
the building, felt carefully all around
1t. The two dogs crouched at Scott's
feet. Selwood studied the building a
moment. Then he turned to his COM
panions.
They'll look for US first at the
back door-that's the natural way to
open this oyster. I'll smash this
shutter. Bill, you go around to the
south side and slam away at the
other window. Bust 1t If you can
but, whatever you do, make plenty
of noise. When 1 get through this
shutter with an ak, Bob drops the
dogs in here, one after the other
they won't get both of 'em. When
you hear me yell, Bill, it will mean
the dogs are In. Then run to the
back door with your ak, Bob, and
chop at 1t. I'll take the sledge and
an ak around to the front door, Bill.
When you hear the dogs inside, join
me at the front door and give it the
sledge for all that's in you. Now
get to your place, Bill-when I hear
your AK, 1 start here-Keep out of
range, best you can there's at least
one hard shooter in there"
A moment later the thud of Par
daloe's ak against the hollow shutter
on the opposite side of the building
would have walked the dead, had
there been any in Sleepy Cat proper.
Timed at the expected signal, zane
the crash of Selwood's ak into the
north shutter. A loud shout from
within, followed by a shot, greeted
the attack; Chloe and Sweetheart,
savage with excitement, yelped and
whined. A shotgun discharged from
close inside the north shutter warned
the besiegers what to expect, and a
buckshOt glancing from the blade Of
the ak caught Selwood above the ear.
Scott, crouching with the dogs.
jumped as a second bullet stung his
wrist, and a third brought an angry
yelp from the dog Chloe.
There was no sign or thought of a
retreat. Selwood redoubled his blows
one or at most two more charges
of buckshot, he believed, were all
that were to be feared for a moment,
and the sooner they came, the better
it would suit him. He sank the ak
head again and again into the thick
lock-rail of the shutter, intent on
reaching the Notwithstanding. Again a
charge of buckshot hurtled through
the damaged easement and sprinkled
the axman, the Indian, and the dogs,
but there was no cessation in the
ferocious shower of blows. The splin-
tering crash that followed each one
way, and the sound of a fourth report
from a shotgun also told Selwood
that Pardaloe was under fire. Throw
ing all his energy into one last swing,
Selwood drove the ak completely
through the jamb to pry out the sta
pie. The ax helve, weakened by the
blow, broke. With an oath, Selwood
called for the sledge and the next
minute what remained of the shutter
hung loose.
Within, Selwood and Scott heard
the shouting of the defenders.
1.-THE doors, boys!" roared Selwood.
Pardaloe, yelling like an Indian, was
plying his ak. Selwood tore the shut
ter from its hinges, stopped, caught
Chloe in his arms, unsnapped her
leash, and threw her like a shot into
the store. From SCOTS arms, Sweet
heart flew in after her.
In an instant pandemonium ragged
inside. Wild shooting, the swapping
Of the Infatuated dogs mingled with
the cursing of the bewildered defend
ers, the crash of SCOTS ak at the
back door, and Pardaloe's sledge at
the front. Wood and iron coull not
withstand. The positions Of the two
parties were now reversed; the
trouble was all on the inside. Dark
ness, the danger of shooting one
another in shooting at the dogs-and
with it all the three men in the store
having all they could do to keep from
being torn To pieces. The hickory
cross-bar that held the front doors
splintered before the first blows of
Pardaloe's sledge, and the stout front
doors gave way. Throwing himself
against the weaker one, Selwood
smashed and shouldered through ii
and fell into the store. Pardaloe, un-
opposed, dashed in from the front
end, and Selwood, springing from
his momentary shelter, grappled the
form of a man In the darkness. The
two clenched on the floor.
"Call off your dogsi" came In a
stentorian voice from somewhere; 1t
sounded like Big Haynes. Selwood,