For a minute or two they fought desperately with the guns; but it
was no use, and it was soon over, and we stood the masters of the
hut, with eleven dead men round us. For they were dead every one,
for we examined them. The stocks of our guns had broken with the
first blow, and the rest had been given with the iron, and in no
case had we to hit twice. I don't say it was anything like Samson
and the donkey's jaw-bone you were telling me about, but it war
very fair hitting. It was scarcely over when we heard several men
come running up outside.
'Is anything the matter, Pedro? We thought we heard a yell.'
'No, nothing,' I said, imitating Pedro's gruff voice, which I felt
sure they would not know through the door; 'it's only these mad
Americanos yelling.'
The men were apparently quite satisfied with the explanation, for
in a minute or two we heard their voices receding, and then all
became still. Presently we opened the door and looked out. Many of
the fires had begun to burn low, but round others there was still a
sound of laughing and singing.
'Another hour,' Rube said, 'and they will all be asleep,'
We threw some more wood on the fire, took some tobacco and
cigarette paper from the pocket of one of the Mexicans, and sat
down to smoke comfortably.
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