The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-06-05
CHAPTER XXI.

low bench above the town. lookin,
out over all the valley, but protected
by high hill behind, upon the summit
Of which was placed a mammoth hlac,
water tank
In its architecture the casa grands
was an exact replica OF hot country
hacienda. a flat-roofed. one-storied
square OF adobe bricks. whitewashed
to keep on the sun and presenting On
three sides nothing but dense trees
planted near for shade. Along IN.
front was a long arcade, the corredor
graced by a series Of massive archea
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 sumptuous dwelling II
became IN moment a fort and. with
men on the high hill By the tank II
was practically impregnable to direct
assault
AS Hooker stepped out on to the GOV.
cred porch with his saddle-gun In his
hand he became simply one more Of a
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 hurryinr
up from the Mexican quarters with q
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 a 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 1t seemed as II 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 1t was appar-
emily more by accident than intention,
and they had been quick to beat re-
treat. As for the main command Of
the insurrectos. they were reported 1t
Chular. six miles up the railroad,
where they had surrounded and taken
q small mining camp and captured .
train at the summit
The column to the south-the one
which Hooker had encountered-had
taken to tho high hills west Of The
town. and. along the skyline Of tAs
buttelike SUBMITS they could now b
seen In scattered bands making thsls
way to the north.
Tho defenders Of Fortuna consisted
Of . ras-tas sarris/ Of twenty IT,
erals and the hot headed. charging
miners. But apparently that was . E
hard 70 beat. for, While
the fedorals entrenched themselves ~
hind the black tank on the hill aa6
prepared to protect the town. the b.
norans In shouting masses drove even.
thing before them and marched o. =
attack Chular. s
But in this they made . mistake to-
The rebel scouts. seeing the great BODY
II defenders pressing on up the mar
row canyon, rode back and informed
he tricky Bernardo Bravo. He would
% q poor general indeed who could
lot see the opening that was oherso
md, while the valiant Sonorans puE>
'ued the rebel cavalry up the psn.
Bernardo Bravo sent the half OF DID
thousand men to cut of their retrest
rom behind.
Along the broad top Of the moun'
ain above they came scampering By
ems and twenties, closing In with
astly superior force upon the now
efeneeless town. In the depths OF tho
anyon below the miners were SUI
hasing the elusive cavalry. their mr.
ng becoming faint as they chambers
n toward the summit and the reoA
eadQuarters at Chular.
They had, in fact, been handled nEs
hildren, and the Americans joined
curses OF their mistak0
ravery as they beheld in what strh~
, had left them.
Forbidden by the superintendent.
anticipate In the combat. ye, lsaNns
4 their care the women Of the CAMP
hey were compelled to stand passive
Y aside while rebels by the hunores
anne charging down the ridges. onv
l the last resort, and when all olp'o "a
lacy and federal defense had fAis~
'ould they be allowed to so mucn =
ock a rife And yet-well. tweau -
etermined Americans might essa"
i'm back this charge.
Taking advantage Of his Me1'.s q
tizenship. Hooker was already on " 4
IN for the trenches when the sups IN!
stopped him with LOOK
(TO BE CONTINUED
How TO Plaster.