Falling back slowly and firing constantly as they came the
four approached the house while Pesita and his full band
advanced cautiously after them. They had almost reached the
house when Bridge lunged forward from his saddle. The Clark
boys had dismounted and were leading their ponies inside the
house. Billy alone noted the wounding of his friend. Without
an instant's hesitation he slipped from his saddle, ran back to
where Bridge lay and lifted him in his arms. Bullets were
pattering thick about them. A horseman far in advance of his
fellows galloped forward with drawn saber to cut down the
gringos.
Billy, casting an occasional glance behind, saw the danger
in time to meet it--just, in fact, as the weapon was cutting
through the air toward his head. Dropping Bridge and dodging
to one side he managed to escape the cut, and before the
swordsman could recover Billy had leaped to his pony's side
and seizing the rider about the waist dragged him to the
ground.
"Rozales!" he exclaimed, and struck the man as he had
never struck another in all his life, with the full force of his
mighty muscles backed by his great weight, with clenched fist
full in the face.
There was a spurting of blood and a splintering of bone,
and Captain Guillermo Rozales sank senseless to the ground,
his career of crime and rapine ended forever.
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