We may be able to stand 'em off.
Have you heard anything of Miss Barbara?"
Anthony Harding shook his head sadly.
"Then we'll have to stay right here and do the best we
can," said Bridge. "I was thinking we might make a run for it
if Miss Barbara was here; but as she's not we must wait for
those who went out after her."
Mr. Harding summoned the two Mexicans while Bridge ran
to the cookhouse and ordered the Chinaman to the ranchhouse.
Then the erstwhile bookkeeper ransacked the bunkhouse for
arms and ammunition. What little he found he
carried to the ranchhouse, and with the help of the others
barricaded the doors and windows of the first floor.
"We'll have to make our fight from the upper windows," he
explained to the ranch owner. "If Pesita doesn't bring too
large a force we may be able to stand them off until you can
get help from Cuivaca. Call up there now and see if you can
get Villa to send help--he ought to protect you from Pesita. I
understand that there is no love lost between the two."
Anthony Harding went at once to the telephone and rang
for the central at Cuivaca.
"Tell it to the operator," shouted Bridge who stood peering
through an opening in the barricade before a front window;
"they are coming now, and the chances are that the first thing
they'll do is cut the telephone wires.
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