Billy stopped long enough to shake the water out of his
carbine, which the girl had carried across, and then forged
ahead toward the ranchhouse from which the sounds of battle
came now in increased volume.
And at the ranchhouse "hell was popping." The moment
Bridge realized that some of the attackers had reached the
veranda he called the surviving Mexican and the Chinaman to
follow him to the lower floor where they might stand a better
chance to repel this new attack. Mr. Harding he persuaded to
remain upstairs.
Outside a dozen men were battering to force an entrance.
Already one panel had splintered, and as Bridge entered the
room he could see the figures of the bandits through the hole
they had made. Raising his rifle he fired through the aperture.
There was a scream as one of the attackers dropped; but the
others only increased their efforts, their oaths, and their threats
of vengeance.
The three defenders poured a few rounds through the
sagging door, then Bridge noted that the Chinaman ceased
firing.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
"Allee gonee," replied Sing, pointing to his ammunition
belt.
At the same instant the Mexican threw down his carbine
and rushed for a window on the opposite side of the room.
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