ly brave against defenceless women and children at
such a time. Not until the firing had ceased and it was evident that
the defenders had retired to the shelter of the ranch, and then only
very slowly and cautiously, would these brigands of the desert be
induced to resume their stealthy approach. For full half an hour there
was a lull in the fight, and then, guided by the light Moreno was now
able to show, Pasqual and two of the stouter-hearted knaves approached
the western wall and held brief consultation with the rascally owner.
Rage at the death of their leader's brother and ally, the thirst for
vengeance, and the hope of securing such rich booty, all were
augmented by Moreno's fiery assurances and encouragement. All the
soldiers were gone, he said, except the "pig of a sergeant" and two
drugged and senseless swine. Somebody among them was wounded. There
were only three, possibly four, left. Let his _companeros_ make
combined attack, two or three through his (Moreno's) rooms, two or
three rush in from the corral, and the same number from the south
front at once, and beyond doubt the cursed Yankees would succumb.
Then, no quarter, no quarter for the men. His connection with the
outlaw band was now known and these witnesses must be put to death.
Then--then the paymaster's safe could readily be battered open, then
there was the mint of money to be divided among the victors, then away
to Sonora with their spoil and with old Harvey's beautiful daughters.
What ransom would he not be willing to pay,--that proud, disdainful
father! Was ever luck so great? But haste! haste!--not a moment could
be lost; they must act at once.

And so Morales hurried to station and instruct his men. Prowling like
coyotes through the darkness and at respectful distance from the
guarded end of the ranch, half a dozen of the number crept into the
corral. Others were distributed over the southern front. Three of the
lighter and more slender of the band were "boosted" through the high
west window into Moreno's domain. Then through the middle room they
made their way, where sat the senora, rocking, weeping, and moaning
over the body of the outlaw leader, where, hiding under the bed,
shivering and praying, crouched the senorita, her daughter, and then,
barefooted, they crept into the room adjoining the bar and listened,
breathless, to the low-toned instructions of the veteran sergeant.
From without no glimmer of light could guide the assailants or hel