Three troopers
reeled and slipped from their saddles. Two horses dropped in
their tracks. Cursing and yelling, the balance of the horsemen
wheeled and galloped away in the direction of the office
building, followed by the fire of the defenders.
"That wasn't so bad," cried Bridge. "I'll venture a guess
that Mr. Pesita is some surprised--and sore. There they go
behind the office. They'll stay there a few minutes talking it
over and getting up their courage to try it again. Next time
they'll come from another direction. You two," he continued,
turning to the Mexicans, "take positions on the east and
south sides of the house. Sing can remain here with Mr.
Harding. I'll take the north side facing the office. Shoot at the
first man who shows his head. If we can hold them off until
dark we may be able to get away. Whatever happens don't let
one of them get close enough to fire the house. That's what
they'll try for."
It was fifteen minutes before the second attack came. Five
dismounted troopers made a dash for the north side of the
house; but when Bridge dropped the first of them before he
had taken ten steps from the office building and wounded a
second the others retreated for shelter.
Time and again as the afternoon wore away Pesita made
attempts to get men close up to the house; but in each
instance they were driven back, until at last they desisted from
their efforts to fire the house or rush it, and contented
themselves with firing an occasional shot through the windows
opposite them.
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