Part 62 (1/2)
Disappointed there they e cautioned his coive the word before you fire”
On cae waited until they ithin a few yards of the house, then he cried: ”Now! Let 'em have it!”
A rattle of rifle fire broke from the upper s into the ranks of the Pesitistas Three troopers reeled and slipped from their saddles
Two horses dropped in their tracks Cursing and yelling, the balance of the horsealloped away in the direction of the office building, followed by the fire of the defenders
”That wasn't so bad,” cried Bridge ”I'll venture a guess that Mr
Pesita is soo behind the office
They'll stay there a few e to try it again Next time they'll come fro to the Mexicans, ”take positions on the east and south sides of the house Sing can re I'll take the north side facing the office Shoot at the first man who shows his head If we can hold theet away Whatever happens don't let one of theh to fire the house That's what they'll try for”
It was fifteen minutes before the second attack came Five dismounted troopers e dropped the first of the and wounded a second the others retreated for shelter
Tiain as the afternoon wore away Pesita et men close up to the house; but in each instance they were driven back, until at last they desisted from their efforts to fire the house or rush it, and contented theh the s opposite thee to Mr Harding during a teoners, unless the boys coet away after dark?” asked the Easterner
”It's our only hope if help don't reach us,” replied Bridge
But when night finally fell and the five men made an attempt to leave the house upon the side away fro they wereof bullets One of the Mexican defenders fell,him within and replace the barricade before the door when five of Pesita's ed close up to their defenses These were finally driven off and again there cae reposted the defenders at the upper here they ht watch every approach to the house
As the hours dragged on the hopelessness of their position grew upon the one--each --and it was evident that Pesita, through an inordinate desire for revenge, would persist until he had reduced their fortress and claimed the last of them as his victim
It ith such cheerful expectations that they awaited the final assault which would see them without ammunition and defenseless in the face of a cruel and iht that the anticipated rush occurred Fro the reports of carbines and the yells of the bandits
There were scarcely inal twenty left; but they made up for their depleted numbers by the rapidity hich they worked their fireare cries
And this time they reached the shelter of the veranda and co at the door
At the report of the rifle so close to them Billy Byrne shoved Barbara quickly to one side and leaped forward to close with the man who barred their way to liberty
That they had surprised him even more than he had them was evidenced by the wildness of his shot which passed harmlessly above their heads as well as by the fact that he had per the, for it permitted Billy Byrne to close with him before the Indian could reload his antiquated weapon Down the twofor a death-hold; but in weight and strength and skill the Pihter, a part of whose daily workouts had consisted in wrestling with proficient artists of theran forward to assist her charound she could find no opening for a blow that ered his antagonist; but presently she discovered that the American required no assistance She saw the Indian's head bending slowly forward beneath the resistless force of the other's hugeof the vertebrae and saw the li with life and vigor, roll helplessly aside--a harmless and inanimate lu hiht whose coat had been ruffled in a fight
”Couy's shot'll lead 'eht doard the valley, along an unknown trail through the darkness of the night
For the irl's arerous portions of the path