The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-09-02
CHAPTER xXlI-Continued.

CHAPTER xxlI-continued.
Let the Mexicans fight it out" he
said. They might resent it If you
took sides, and that would make 1t bad
for us. Just wait a while-you never
can tell what will happen. Perhaps the
rurales and federals will stand them
off,"
What, that little bunch?" demanded
Bud, pointing s~cornfully at the Land
full Of defenders who we're covering
behind their rock piles. why half or
them pelones don't know what a gun
vas made for, and the rurales-"
We'll, the rebels are the same" suS-
gested the superintendent p~aciically.
Let them fight it out-we need every
American We can get, so just forget
about being a Mexican"
"All right" agreed Bud, as he yield
ed reluctantly to reason. 1T Amt be-
cause I'm a Mexican citizen-l just
want to stop that yush."
He walked back to the house, jug,
Cling his useless gun and keeping his
eye on the distant ridges. And then,
in a chorus of defiant yells, the men
in the federal trenches began to shoot.
In an airline the distance vas some
thing over a mile. but at the first scat
tering volley the rebels halted and
fired a voIley in return. With a vicious
spang a few stray bullets smashed
against the reverberating steel tank,
but no on 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 Che shouting of the non
combatant MeAicans 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 a continuous vol
ley; spent bullets leaped like locusts
across the fiat; men ran to and fro,
now crouch:ng 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 it was a battle
there was nobody hurt.
For the first half-hour the Ameri-
cans stayed prudently under cover.
busying themselves at the suggestion
of a few American women in providing
a frst-aid hospital on the sheltered
porch. Then, as no wounded came to
fill it and the rebels delayed their
charge, one man after another climbed
up to the trenches, o%stensibly to bring
down the injured.
As soldiers and %bystanders reported
no one hit, and the bullets flew harm.
lessly past, their solicitude turned rap,
idly to disgust and then to scorn.
Strange as it may seem, they were dis
appointed ut the results. and their re
marks we're derogatory as they com,
mented on the bravery Of pelones and
Mexicans in general.
From a dread Of imminent attack, OF
charging rebels and retreating defend
ers. and a fight to the death by the
house, they came suddenly to a desire
for blood and battle, for dead men and
the cries Of the wounded; and all fear
of the ~insurrectos left them.
Come away, boys" grunted the
burly roadmaster, who up to then had
led in the work; I'VE wasted our time
on that hospital-there1l be no wound
ed. Let's take ourselves back to the
house and have a 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 a moving-picture show!"
81 bet you l can go up on thai
ridge" announced Hooker, land clear
out the whole bunch with my six
shooter before lou could bat your
eye"
But the Supel IleIueul Was uOl 81
sure.
Never mind, boys" he said. We're
worth a lot of ransom money to those
rebels and they won't give up so quick
And look at this now-my miners com
ing back! Those are the boys that vii
fight! Wait till Chico and Ramon
Mendoza get after them"
He pointed as Re spoke to a strag
Cling band Of S%onGfals, led by the
much-vaunted Mendoza brothers, al
they hurried to save the town, and
cheer went up fro... he trenches az
the federals beheld reinforcements
But a change had come over the fire
eating miners, and they brought othel
rebels in their wake.
AS they trudged YEARLY into towr
and sought shelter among the house!
great body of men appeared on thu
opposite ridge, firing down at them al