His example was
followed by several others and then an unexpected event occurred.
Those in the cabins who preferred to die fighting, angered at this
desertion, opened fire on their former comrades, who barely escaped by
rolling down the slightly inclined bank into the river. Red fired
again and laughed to himself. Then the fugitives swam down the river
and landed under the guns of the last squad. They were taken to the
rear and, after being bound, were placed under a guard. There were
seven in the party and they looked worn out.
When the huts were burning the fiercest the uproar in the corral
arose to such a pitch as to drown all other sounds. There were left
within its walls a few hundred cattle whose brands had not yet been
blotted out, and these, maddened to frenzy by the shooting and the
flames, tore from one end of the enclosure to the other, crashing
against the alternate walls with a noise which could be heard far out
on the plain. Scores were trampled to death on each charge and finally
the uproar subsided in sheer want of cattle left with energy enough to
continue. When the corral was investigated the next day there were
found the bodies of four rustlers, but recognition was impossible.
Several of the defenders were housed in cabins having windows in the
rear walls, which the occupants considered fortunate. This opinion was
revised, however, after several had endeavored to escape by these
openings.
Pages:
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235