Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-11-24
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Copyright. 1897. by F. Tennyson Nicely.
CHAPTER XIX.
HnGZ2AE Aazzza1aN
Surrounded by Fire.

Surrounded BY Fire.
Truer words were never spoken
than when Travers declares they had
hot work before them.
As the others comprising the little
party OF defenders come tumbling out
of tho compartments which they have
defended SO bravcly. they. too. dis
cover the advance of the guerrillas'
fiambeaux hastily snatched from the
fires.
Jack ir by instinct leader Of men.
His quick mind Irasps n problem
and almost on the instant solves IL.
He seems to know by intuition. as
II appears. just what sort OF action
suits an emergency.
Speedily he places his men where
they can do the most execution. and
In the darkness they crouch along
side the carriage. awaiting the coming
of tho enemy.
There Is hardly n breathing spell be
fore those who come running along
the railway track will he close enough
To invite an opening OF the engage
mcn,.
Tho gucrriilas of course cannot sec
the carriage. since NIL lights have
been estInsuishcd: but knowing the
nature OF the ground. they are able
to guess Its present position with
some degree of certainty.
Jack Is there In the van ready to
give u good account Of himself He
has regulated matters 10 there may
be no great waste OF ammunition.
Sm!thers and himself are to open the
ball. and II II becomes necessary. the
others Will chime In.
The two comrades are close togeth'
cr. and have timc for the exchange
of few sentences ere the nearest
,orchbcarcrs come within the range
where they have marked IN imasin'
AIRY dead line.
Then the ball opens.
Doubtless tho advancing gncrrillas
understand tho situation rs soon ms
the double flash cicavcs the darkness
up tho rise. for their savage shouts
seem to Increase In volume.
Those In the lead are naturally the
ones to suffer when meeting with
such nm obstacle.
Two torches are seen TO plunge
downward. and those who carried
them will hardly give further trou'
BILE.
SIN. behind presses thronE: the
catastrophe has not dulicd their en-.
,hnsiasm. but rather whciicd their mp.
petite for revenge.
Again Jack and Smithcrs let loose.
They arc as cool and collected as
though prac,icinE Mt wooden targets.
Each second Is the signal for double
discharge. and the regularity OF this
death dealing report stamps itself
upon the mind with awful distinct
ness.
Unseen by Travcrs. two heads have
appeared Mt the carriage window. An
ovcrpowcrinE curiosity to see the ma.
turc of the danger that hnnHs over
them has influenced Jessie and the
Spanish Girl to thus cndcavor 10 sur
vcy the scene.
They discover the advancing
torches. and hear the shouts OF the
assaiiants: then come the reports
of firearms and the terrible confusion
that cnsncs down the track. Secret.
ly one of these gentle hearts Is pray.
ing for the safety OF the man who
has offered his body rs a buiwark be-
tween those desperate devils and her
self: for Jessie Cameron has indeed
made startling discovery. though
she does not as yet breathe Its ma.
turc even TO her stepsisler.
Meanwhile. the fusilladc has borne
fruit. Even brave men might re.
coil before such systematic firing.
The shots continue to ring out as II
by machine work-each discharge