The Huttig news., 1914-10-10


 Forbidden by the superintendent to participate In the combat, yet having in their care the women of the camp, they were compelled to stand passive ly aside while rebels by the hundred came charging down the ridges. Only in the last resort, and when all diplo- macy and federal defense had failed, would they be allowed to so much as cock rife. And yet-well, twenty determined Americans might easily turn back this charge.
 Taking advantage of his Mexican citizenship, Hooker was already on the run for the trenches when the super intendent stopped him with look.
 Let the Mexicans fight it out" he said. They might resent 1t If you took sides. and that would make it bad for us. Just wait while-you never can tell what will happen. Perhaps the rurales and federals will stand them off"
 What, that little bunch?" demanded Bud. pointing scornfully at the hand full 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-"
 Well. the rebels are the same,' sug- gested the superintendent pacifcally. 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. Tt ain't be- cause I'm a Mexican citizen-I just want to stop that rush"
 He walked back to the house. jug gling his useless gun and keeping his eye on the distant ridges And then, in 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 fired volley in return. With vicious spang few stray bullets smashed against the reyerberating steel. tank. but no ono was hurt, and the defend CTS, 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 oi the town came the shouting of the non combatant Mexicans as they ran here and there for shelter But by ths trenches, and Tn the rear of the blavcl tank, the great crowd of on1ooEort persisted, ducking as each successive bullet hit the tank and shouting en- couragement as the defenders emrtied their rifles and reloaded with clip after clip.
 The rifles rattled continuous vol ley; spent bullets feaped 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 it was battle there was nobody hurt.
 For the first half-hour the Ameri- cans stayed prudently under cover. busying themselves at the suggestion of few American women in providing a first-aid hospital on the sheltered porch. Then, as no wounded came to fill it and the rebels delayed their np to the trenches, ostensibly to bring down the injured.
 AS soldiers and bystanders reported no oue hit, and the bullets flew harm lessly past, their solicitude turned rap idly to disgust and then to scorn. Strange as 1t may seem. they were dis appointed at the results, and their re marks were 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 CTS, and fight. to the death by the house, they came suddenly to a desire for blood and battle, for dead men and he cries of the wounded; and all fear of the insurrectos left them.
 Come away, boys" grunted the burly readmaster, who up to then had led in the work; we 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 ain't war them Mexicans think they're working for moving-picture show!"
 q bet you I can go up on that ridge" announced Hooker, and 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 so quick. And look at this now-my miners com ing back! Those are the boys that will fight! Wait till Chico and Ramon Mendoza get after thsm!"
 He pointed as he spoke to strag- gling 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 heheld endorsements But 8 change had come over the fire