The Elbert County tribune., 1914-10-09
(coprishs 1914. ~ Pr.at 4. Msa.ey)
cHAPTER xxII-censInued.


said. They might resent It II you
took sides. and that would make 1t bad
for us. Just wait a while--you never
can tell what will happen. Perhaps the
Turalcs and federals will stand them
on"
What, that little bunch 7" demanded
Bud. pointing scornfuily at tho hand
fni of defenders who were covering
behind their rock piles. why half of
them pelones don't know what gun
was made for, and the rurales--"
We'll. the rebels are the same" sug-
Gestcd the superintendent pacifically.
LET them fight 1t out--we need every
American we can get. 80 just forget
about being a Mexican
"All right" agreed Bud. as he yield
cd reluctantly to reason. 1T amt be-
cause I'm Mexican citizen-I Just
want to stop that rush,
He walked back to the house. Jug
Cling his useless gun and keeping his
eye on the distant ridges. And then,
In chorus of defiant yeiis. the men
ia the federal trenches began to shoot
In an airline the distance was some
thing over mile. but at the first scat.
tering volley the rebels halted and
nred a volley in return. with vicious
spang q few stray bullets smashed
against the reverberating steel tank,
but no ons was hurt, and the defend
ers, drunk with valor. began to shoot
and yell like mad.
The bullets of the rebels, fired at
random. struck UP dust-jets in every
nj - -
the town came the shouting of the non
combatant Mexicans as they ran here
and there for shelter. But by the
trenches. and In the rear OF the black
tank, the great crowd OF onlookers
persisted. ducking as each successive
bullet hit the tank and shouting en-
couragement as the defenders epptied
their rifles and reloaded with Clip after
clip.
The rifles ratified continuous vol
ley; spent bullets leaped like locusts
across the fiat; men ran to and fro.
now crouching behind the tank. now
stepping boldly into the open; and the
defiant shouts of the defenders almost
drowned the walls OF the women. Ex-
cept for one thing 1t was battle
there was nobody hurt.
For the first haif-hour the Ameri-
cans stayed prudently under cover.
busyfng themselves at the suggestion
of few American women In providing
q frstaid hospital on the sheltered
porch. Then. al no wounded came to
ill It and the rebels delayed their
charge. ono man after another climbed
up to the trenches. ostensibly to bring
down the injured.
A soldiers and bystanders reported
no one hit, and the bullets few harm
Iessly past. their solicitdde turned rap
idly TO disgust and then to scorn.
Strange a. It may seem. they were dis
appointed at the results. and their re-
marks were derogatory as they COM
mented on the bravery df pelones and
Mexicans In general.
From 4 dread OF imminent attack. of
charging rebels and retreating defend
ers, and = tight to the death by the
house, they came suddenly to desire
for blood and battle. for dead men and
the cries of the wounded; and all fear
of tho insurrectos left them.
Come away. boys." grunted tho
ouIly A080nA11LoAp WIN fup 70 tu6u QAu
led In the work; 1--WE wasted our time
on that hospital-there'll be no wound
ed. Let's take ourselves back to the
house and have quiet smoke"
Right you are, Ed" agreed the mas
ter mechanic. as he turned upon his
heel in disgust. "This amt war
them Mexicans think they're working
for moving picture showi"
II bet you can go up on that
ridge" announced Hooker. land clean
out the whole bunch with my six
shooter before You could bat your
eye"
But the superintendent was not SO
sure.
Never mind. boys" he said. We're
worth lot OF ransom money to those
rebels and they won't give up 80 quick
And look at this now-my miners com
ing backl Those are the boys that will
fight! Wait till Chico and Ramon
Mendoza get after them!"
He pointed as he spoke to strag-
Cling band Of Sonorans. led by the
much-vaunted Mendoza brothers. as
they hurried to save the town. and a
cheer went up from the trenches as
the federals beheld reinforcements.
But 4 change had come over the Are
eating miners. and they brought other
rebels in their wake.
As they trudged wearily into town
and sought shelter among the houses
q great body OF men appeared on the
opposite ridge. firing down at them as
they retreated. The battle rapidly
turned into a long-distance shooting
contest with the rebels on the ridges
and the defenders IN the valley. and
finally. as the day wore on and thun-
derstorm came up. II died out alto
sether and the rebels turned back to
their camp.