But he knew that it would not. The besiegers had their one great
opportunity and they would not waste it.
Joe's hand tightened around the breech of his rifle, and for a second he
thought he must have shot. But the shot came from the top of the hill,
near the wagon, and it was followed by a volley that was in turn
followed by the barking of revolvers.
They waited, wondering, and after fifteen minutes, while the burning
wagon continued to smoke, they saw the horsemen come down the hill. They
were nine men, riding at a walk, and they herded Joe's mules and Ellis's
and Winterson's horses ahead of them.