Chaves' lambs were ranged on either
side of the car, their hands in the air. Back came the
lieutenant's gaze to the impassive face in front of him. Taken by
and large, it did not seem an auspicious moment for garnering
glory. He decided to take the advice bestowed on him.
"Better put your hands up and vote with your men. Then you won't
be tempted to play with your gun and commit suicide. That's
right, sir. I'll relieve you of it if you don't object."
Since the lieutenant had no objections to offer, the smiling
gypsy possessed himself of the revolver. At the same instant two
more men appeared at the end of the car. One of them was Juan
Valdez and another one of the mule-skinners. Simultaneously with
their entrance rang out a most disconcerting fusillade of small
arms in the darkness without. Megales' military band, as
O'Halloran had facetiously dubbed them to the ranger, arrived at
the impression that there were about a thousand insurgents
encompassing the train. Chaves choked with rage, but the rest of
the command yielded to the situation very tranquilly, with no
desire to offer themselves as targets to this crackling explosion
of Colts.
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