A NIGHT ATTACK.
Realizing in an instant that the hiss of the fuse, like the
rattle of the snake, betokened danger, Donald drew hastily back
into the patio in time to be out of reach of the explosion which
splintered the gate and tore it from its hinges.
Then, with finger on trigger, he awaited the coming of the foe.
It was a tense moment and the boy's heart beat fast. He had been
in many trying situations, but never in one where the safety of
so many others seemed to depend upon him.
He heard the sound of oncoming feet and intuitively threw himself
upon the ground behind a little stone paling which surrounded a
dismantled fountain.
The act undoubtedly saved his life, for an instant later there
was a scattering volley and he could hear the bullets hit against
the stone wall of the house behind him.
In an instant he pressed the trigger and a yell which followed
gave evidence that the bullet found a mark.
He fired again, but evidently without effect, and a minute later
a light at one side of the patio told him that the enemy, or a
part of them at least, were inside the gate.
As the light flared up Donald fired again, but again without
avail; but a moment later the cannon on the roof spoke.
"So," he thought, "Billie and Mr. Black are at last awake."
At the report of the cannon the light went out and there was the
rush of scurrying feet, followed by a shout.
The shout indicated that those within the patio had withdrawn to
the other side of the gate.
Feeling sure that the patio was now free of the enemy for a time
at least, Donald retreated in the dark to the house and was soon
inside. At the first landing he encountered Josie, sitting on a
step with a ready revolver. He was able to see her by the dim
light of an oil lamp which hung from the ceiling.
"Where are the others?" he asked.
"On the roof. They are trying to locate the enemy."
Donald ascended to the roof.
"I have a plan," he said, "which will enable us to get in another
shot. Load with shrapnel and I will see if I can't make some sort
of a light outside the gate. Be ready on the instant."
He ran downstairs and again crept out into the dark patio. He had
noticed in the afternoon that there were several bundles of straw
in the stable.
Taking one of these under his arm, he approached the angle in the
wall near the outer gate. He lighted a match and as the flame
caught the straw he flung the bundle over the wall, at the same
time darting inside the stable.
He had hardly found a safe position when the cannon spoke again
and evidently with telling effect.
But before those inside the walls had time to think, the enemy
rushed in, determined to capture the place.
In the dark they rushed to the house, but once under the gallery
which extended all around the inside of the patio, they produced
a light which enabled them to find the doors.
The light also enabled Donald to see those at the door and he
fired from the stable.
For a moment the fire in the rear disconcerted the enemy and
several fled, but others took possession of the doorway and
forced their way in.
The first one who entered fell by a bullet from Josie's revolver;
but realizing her weakness she jumped and fled to the floor
above, where she met her father coming down.
"They have gained possession of the house," Mr. Black told Billie
as he and the señora also descended from the roof. "We must now
guard the stairway. We should be able to hold it indefinitely."
This prediction seemed correct, as the first four or five men who
attempted to reach the second story never got more than their
heads above the floor.
After several trials of this sort, they withdrew and held a
council of war. The result was that a few minutes later a voice
called out from below:
"If you will surrender, your lives will be spared."
In reply Mr. Black shouted: "If you do not withdraw and leave us
in peace you will meet a fearful punishment."
His reply was greeted with jeers.
"I wonder how many of them there are?" queried Billie.
"Quite a bunch from the sound." Then, a moment later, "They seem
to be going out."
"Maybe they think we will come down," said Josie.
"But we must not," exclaimed the señora. "They would kill us.
Surely our friend must bring us aid soon."
"Let us hope so," was Mr. Black's reply.
And hope was the best they could do.
There was no further attack, although they could hear the sound
of voices in the patio below.
After a long period of quiet Mr. Black ventured the assertion
that they were waiting for daylight, and his surmise proved
correct.
No attempt was made to force an entrance until the first faint
light of day began to appear. Then there was renewed activity
below and a few minutes later the sound of a single shot.
"I wonder what that was," exclaimed Billie.
No one could answer, but had Billie been where he could see, he
would have known that it was Donald who fired.
As the light came, Donald, peering through a crack in the stable,
had seen a man climbing up the side of the house toward the roof.
Without a moment's hesitation he fired and the man dropped, shot
through the right hand.
But the shot was Donald's undoing. The flash of his gun was
detected and half a dozen men rushed his hiding place and took
him prisoner.
He was at once taken before the captain of the band and
questioned as to the number of defenders and as to the
whereabouts of Gen. Blanco.
To all the questions Donald gave an evasive answer.
"If you will tell me where Gen. Blanco is," said the captain, "I
will give you your freedom."
"That's easy," was Donald's reply. "He is with Gen. Carranza."
"I don't believe it."
"Well, I can't help that, nor does what you believe make any
difference. It is the truth and what you may believe has nothing
whatever to do with it."
The captain scowled.
"Who is it then, that is defending the house?"
"Americans. You had better let us go, or it will be the worse
for you. We had a safe conduct from Gen. Huerta, but we were
betrayed."
"If I had my way," said the captain, "I'd shoot every American in
the whole of Mexico."
"I don't see why," from Donald. "We have nothing against you."
"Take him away," ordered the captain, "and see that he does not
escape. Now let us capture the others."
There was a rush for the house as Donald was led back to the
stable.
Billie and Mr. Black heard them coming.
"Go to the roof," commanded Mr. Black, speaking to the two
females, "and keep yourselves and the little girl out of sight.
We will hold them back here as long as we can and then we will
also come to the roof."
The command had hardly been obeyed than the Mexicans began to
crowd up the stairs. They were met with shot after shot, but at
last all the weapons were empty.
"Run for the roof," said Mr. Black as he arose to his feet and
with his heavy boot kicked a head which was just coming up the
stairs.
Billie obeyed and a minute later the fugitives had gathered upon
the last place of safety left.
"If we only had some ammunition," moaned Billie. "Can't we do
something?"
Then, as in answer to his own query, he picked up a twelve-pound
cannon ball that lay on the roof and, raising it above his head
with both hands, hurled it through the opening upon those below.
This unexpected attack caused the besiegers to draw back, but
only for a moment. Then they came on again. In his desperation,
Mr. Black, with almost superhuman strength, picked up the cannon
itself, just as Billie had picked up the ball, and hurled it down
the stairs.
Half a dozen men fell beneath its weight, while the others,
frightened at such an exhibition of strength, fell back in
dismay.
A shout from the captain urged them forward, but ere they could
gather their courage for another rush there came the sound of a
volley in the patio below and a minute later Adrian rushed up the
stairs, followed by Captain Lopez and a squad of his soldiers.
Taken in the rear and entirely by surprise, the Huerta forces
threw down their arms and cried for mercy, and in less than five
minutes after the arrival of Captain Lopez and his men, the
entire force, or as many as remained, were prisoners.