Gilpin observer., 1914-11-26

macy and federal defense had failed.
would they be allowed to 30 much as
cock a 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 a look.
Let the Mexicans fight 1t out" he
said. "They might resent 1t II you
took sides, and that would make 1t 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 we're covering
behind their rock piles. why half of
them pelones don't know what a gun
was made for. and the rurales-"
well, the rebels are the same" sug-
gested the superintendent pacifically.
Let them fight it out-we need every
American we can get. 30 just forget
about being Mexican"
"All right" agreed Bud, as he yield
ed reluctantly to reason. ut amt be-
cause I'm a Mexican citizen-I 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 a 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 a few stray bullets smashed
against the reverberating steel tank.
but no ono was hurt, and the defend
eSs, drunk with valor, began to SHOOT
and yell like mad.
The bullets Of the rebels, fred 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-
4
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 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
first-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, ostensibly 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 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
ers, and fight to the death by the
house, they came suddenly to desire
for blood and battle. for dead men and
the cries OF the wounded: and all fear
| 90 -. Loo
Come away. boys" grunted the
burly roadmaster. who UP to then had
led in the work; I'VE wasted our time
on that hospital-therell 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 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 sc
sure.
Never mind, boys" he said. We're
worth a lot Of ransom money to those
rebels and they won't give up 30 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 them!"
He pointed az he spoke to q strag
Cling band Of Sonorsns, led by the
much-vaunted Mendoza brothers. as
they hurried to save the town. and q
cheer went up from the trenches as
the federals beheld reinforcements
But a change had come over the fire
eating miners. and they brought other
rebels in their wake.