Harding and Barbara.
"Bridge and I'll bring up the rear."
Then he stopped his pony and turning took deliberate aim
at the knot of horsemen to their left. A bandit tumbled from
his saddle and the fight was on.
Fortunately for the Americans Rozales had but a handful
of men with him and Rozales himself was never keen for a
fight in the open.
All morning he hovered around the rear of the escaping
Americans; but neither side did much damage to the other,
and during the afternoon Billy noticed that Rozales merely
followed within sight of them, after having dispatched one of
his men back in the direction from which they had come.
"After reinforcements," commented Byrne.
All day they rode without meeting with any roving bands
of soldiers or bandits, and the explanation was all too sinister
to the Americans when coupled with the knowledge that Villa
was to attack an American town that night.
"I wish we could reach the border in time to warn 'em,"
said Billy; "but they ain't no chance. If we cross before sunup
tomorrow morning we'll be doin' well."
He had scarcely spoken to Barbara Harding all day, for his
duties as rear guard had kept him busy; nor had he conversed
much with Bridge, though he had often eyed the latter whose
gaze wandered many times to the slender, graceful figure of
the girl ahead of them.
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