The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-11-19
cHAPrER xxlI-contInued.


took sides. and that would make II bad
for Us. just wait while--you never
can tell what will happen. Perhaps the
Furales and federals win stand them
of"
what, that little bunchi" demanded
Bud, pointing scornfuIly at the hand
Sui OF defenders who we're covering
behind their rock piles. why half OF
them peIones don't know what gun |
was made for. and the rurales--"
WELL the rebels are the same" sug- !
Gested the superintendent Practically.
~sLet them fight II out~-we need every |
American we can get. so just forget
about being Mexican"
"All right" agreed Bud. as he yield
I'd reluctantly to reason. 1T aint be-
cause I'm a Mexican citizen 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,
An q chorus OF defiant yells, the men
IN the federal trenches began to shoot.
In an airline the distance was some
ching over q mile, but at the first scat
2eFing voIley the rebels halted and
1ired q yoIley In return. With vicious
epang q few stray bullets smashed
against the reverberating steel tank.
Out no onJ was hurt. and the defend
ers, drunk with valor, began TO shoot
and yell like mad.
The bullets Of the rebels. fred at
random, struck up dust-ieta In every
direction, and from the lower part OF
the town came the shouting of the nom
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 emptied
their rifles and reloaded with clip after
clip.
The rifles ratified continuous vol
icy; spent bullets leaped like locusts
across the nat; men ran to and fro
now crouching behind the tank, nov
atepping boldly into the open; and the
defiant shouts Of the defenders almost
drowned the wallis OF the women, lex
cent for one thing II was a battle
there was nobody hurt
FOR the frst halE-hour the Ameri
cans stayed prudently under cover
ibuaylng themselves at the suggestion
OF few American women In providing
4 firat-aId hospital on the sheltere'
porch. Then, az no wounded came I,
ali IL and the rebels delayed thei
charge. one man after another ciimbe
tlp 10 the trenches. oatenaibly to brin
down the injured.
AZ soldiers and hystan6ers Tsporte
no one hit. ard the bullets few harm
aassiy past, their sollcitude turned raj
ally 10 disgust and then 10 scorl
strange aa II may seem. they were di
appointed at the results. and their r
marks we're derogatory az they con
~nented on the bravery Of pelones an
Mexicana In general.
From a dread OF imminent attack.
charging rebels and retreating defen
.era. and a light to the death by Il
mouse. they came suddenly to deail
for blood and battle, for dead men al
the cries OF the wounded; and all feI
OF the inaurrectos left them,
aCome away. boys" grunted Il
hurly roadmaster. who UP to then hi
Tea IN the work. I'VE wasted our tin
an that hospital--therell be no woun
ed. Let's take ourselves back to I
mouse and have a quiet smoke"
Fright you are, Ed" agreed the mi
ear mechanic, as he turned upon
haeI In disgust. This amt war
them Mexicans think they're work.
Tor q movlng-pioture showl"
II bet you | can so up on II
ridge" announced Hooker, "and Gle
oal the whole bunch with my 3
shooter before you could bat yc
eye"
But the superintendent was not
sure.
rNever mind. boys" he said. I'VE
sworth a lot OF ransom money to th'
rebels and they won't give up 80 Qui
And leok at this new--my miners CT
4ng backl Those are the boys that '
firhtI Wait TIN Chico and Ran
Mendoza get after theml"
He pointed 40 he spoke to str
Cling band Of Sonorans, led by
Rnuch-vaunted Mendoza brothers.
fhsy hurried to save the town, an
cheer went up from the trenches
hut q change had come over the
eating miners. ana they brought OF
rebels in their wake.
A they trudged YEARLY into e
and sought shelter among the hou
a sreat body % men appeared on
opposite ridge iring down at them
ahey retreated. The battle rap
turned into a long.dlstance shoot
contest. with the rebels ON the rid
and the defenders In the valley,
sinAily. AZ the day wore on and q
derstorm came up. Il died out
Relher and the rebels turned baci
their calap,
Except for one lone federal who
ahOs himself by accident there was
= single defender hurt. and II
enemy had suffered losses IL was
~ some such chance, But when
Bonoran patriots. holding up
empty belts. came clamoring for