The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-10-16
CHAPTER xxii-contInued.


LET tho Mexicaus fight it out" b.
said; "They might resent 1t II yo'
took sides, and that would make it bal
for US. Just wait q while-you neve
can tell what will happen. Perhaps tn
rurales and federals will stand then
off,"
What; that little bunch?" demanded
Bud, pointing scornfully at the Land
full Of defenders who were cower1nl
behind their rock piles. why half o
them pelones don't know what gu'
was made for, and the rurales-"
well. the rebels are the same" sug
gested the superintendent Practically
Let them fight it out-we need ever.
American we can get, so just forge
about being q Mexican"
All right" agreed Bed, as he yield
ed reluctantly to reason. 1T amt be
cause I'm q Mexican citizen-l 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 q chorus Of defiant yells, the men
in the federal trenches began to shoot
In an airline the distance was some
thing over a mile. but at the first scat
tering volley the rebels halted and
fred a volley in return. With a 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
direction, and from the lower part Of
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-
couragen1ent as the defenders emptied
their. rifles and reloaded with clip after
clip.
The rifles ratified . continuous VOL
dsy; spent bullets leaped IKE locusts
ACROSS the nat; men ran to and fro,
now crouching behind tho tank, now
stepping boldly into the open; and the
defiant shouts Of the defenders almost
drowned the waits Of the women. M-
lcopt Tor one thing It vas . battle
thego Was nobody hurt
| yor tho nrst half-hour the Amegi-
|oans stayed prudently under cover:
b1syinS themselves at the suggestion
pe 4 fsw American women IN providing
Arst-aid hospital on the sheltered
porch. Then. % NO wounded came TO
I'm Il and the rebels delayed their
charge. one man after another climbed
up 70 tho trenches, ostensibly to bring
}6own the injured. .
| ~ soldiers and bystanders reported
no ono hit, and the bullets dew harm
hessly past, their solicituds turned rap
dly 70 disgust and then to scorn
gtange - It may seem. they were die
appointed at the results, and their 70
MARKS were dsroSatory - they com
mented on the bravery Of peloues and
h6e1cans In general.
From dread Of Imminent attack. O
charging rebels and retrsating defend
Iseu, and 8 hight TO the death BY Ii,
\ Aouss. they came suddenly to desir,
I6oe blood and battle, for dead men IN,
iehs cries Of the wounded; and Ill fea!
o4 tho insurrectos left them.
Come away. boys" srunted th,
Asrly roadmaster. who Up to then ha,
ped In the work: we wasted Dur tim,
|oa that hospital there11 b no wound
ia. LAt's take ourselves back to tn
houss and have . quiet smoke"
fright you are, I'd" agreed tho maj
!ter mechanic. % hs turned upon hi
heel In disguSG This amt war
them 1exicans think they're working
bof Q uaovins.ptcture showl"
Il bet You ! can 80 up on tina
sidge," announced Hooker. and clea'
tout tho whole bunch with my si1
Ahooter bslore you coule bat you
Oye.
But the superintendent was not .
Dsro.