The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-10-09
CHAPTER XXI.


a low bench above the town., looking
out over all the valley, but protected
by high hill behind, upon the summit
of which was placed a mammoth black
water tank.
In it's architecture the casa grande
was an exact replica of hot-country
hacienda, fat-roofed, one.storied
square Of adobe bricks, whitewashed
to keep of the sun and presenting on
three sides nothing but dense trees
planted near for shade. Along the
front was long arcade, thu corredor,
graced by series Of massive arches
which let In the light and air. Inside
were low chambers and long passages;
and, behind, the patio and garden of
orange and fig trees.
Built for a sumptuous dwelling, it
became in moment a fort and, with
men on the high hill by the tank, it
was practically impregnable to direct
assault.
AS Hooker stepped out on to the cov-
cred porch with his saddle-gun in his
hand he became simply one more Of
band of excited Americans, all armed
and ready to defend the house to the
last. Some were pacing back and forth
In the corredor, others were hurrying
up from the Mexican quarters with a
last belated handful of women, but the
major portion were out on the open
bench, either gazing north and south
at the scenes Of the distant firing or
engaging in curio-mad scramble for
any spent bullet that struck.
The fighting, such as there was. was
mostly up the canyon, where a large
party Of Sonoran miners had rushed in
pursuit of the rebels. The firing down
the canyon In the direction of Old For.
tuna had died away to nothing, and for |
the moment it seemed as If the futile
charge and retreat was the beginning
and the end of the battle.
A party Of rebels had penetrated
clear into the town, but it was appar.
emily more by accident than intention,
and they had been quick to beat a re-
treat. AS for the main command of
the insurrectos, they were reported at
Chular, six miles up the railroad,
where they had surrounded and taken
4 small mining camp and captured a
rain at the summit.
The column to the south-the one
which Hooker had encountered-had
aiken to the high hills west of the
own, and, along the skyline of the
'uttelike SUBMITS they could now be
cen in scattered bands making their
way to the north.
The defenders of Fortuna consisted
t rag-tag garrison of twenty fed
rails and the hot-headed, charging
miners. But apparently that was a
ombination hard to beat. for, while
ne federals entrenched themselves be-
ind the black tank on the hill and
repaired to protect the town, the So
Grams in shouting masses drove every.
hing before them and marched on to
tack Chular.
But in this they made a mistake, for =
le rebel scouts, seeing the great body y
defenders pressing on up the mar .
wv canyon, rode back and informed
lie tricky Bernardo Bravo. He would
3 a poor general indeed who could
ot see the opening that was offered
I'd, while the valiant Sonorans DUR.
led the rebel cavalry up the pass. '
Bravo sent the half of his L
men to cut off their retreat Z
cn behind. b
Along the broad top Of the noun. "
In above they came scampering by A
rs and twenties, closing in with a Il
lstly superior force upon the now II
fenseless town. In the depths of the
nyon below the miners were still v
asing the elusive cavalry, their FIR. n
g becoming faint as they clambered
toward the summit and the rebel II
adquarters at Chular. t,
They had. in fact, been handled like in
ildren, and the Americans Joined in n
curses Of their mistaken
avery as they beheld in what straits p.
had left them. -,
Forbidden by the superintendent to
rticipate in the combat, yet having
their care the women Of the camn.
~ were compelled to stand passive. -.
aside while rebels by the hundred =:
ne charging down the ridges. Only ="
the last resort, and when all dipIo. ~
cy and federal defense had failed.
uld they be allowed to SO much al
* rifle. And yet-well, twenty
:ermined Americans might easily m
n back this charge. III
Taking advantage Of his Mexican ~
zenship, Hooker was already on the "a
for the trenches when the super. n,
endent stopped him with look. n,
tTo BE coNTINUEDJ ~,