Part 21 (2/2)

”We had better be getting back to town,” remarked Pearl, and they all started down the road, towards town, walking in little groups.

”Just think--that might have been any one of us,” said Mickey, ”It wouldn't have mattered who was with Juan Moros when Negro Noche came in--she would have shot anyone she found with him.”

”Yeah--you're right, Mickey--it might have been any one of us. Juan was a nice fellow to everyone, but Noche is a bad b.i.t.c.h--don't let anybody fool you about that, but she won't get away with this--his people will see to that,” answered Evelyn.

Pearl, Evelyn and Mickey were the first to arrive on the Sixteenth of September Street--the rest of the girls had split into the usual groups that they usually ran in, and came straggling along behind.

”Let's go on down to the Central, and have a few drinks and rest awhile, and let this wear off,” suggested Evelyn.

”O. K.” said Mickey, as they were nearing the railroad tracks.

”Jees--look coming,” said Pearl, pointing down the tracks.

In the distance a train was coming--Mexicans were hanging all over the engine, and on the roofs of the box-cars, the whistle was blowing, guns were firing. ”It's the rebels.”

”Here, we better get off the street--quick, let's run in the Rio Bravo,”

said Evelyn, as she grabbed Pearl's hand and started for the hotel.

The few people that had been standing in the street, ran for shelter.

Four of the Federal Cavalry who had no chance to be disloyal, decided to make a display of their bravery by wrecking the rebel train, by riding four abreast into the locomotive, therefore making history, for Mexico, as well as being heroes themselves, but never considering that they would not be present to hear of it, they spurred their poor, bony horses on to the tracks, one in command gave the order ”Forward”--and down the tracks they rode, the engine meeting them at the crossing of the Sixteenth of September Street.

Men, horses, legs, arms, heads, blood, manure, and guns were scattered and strewn for blocks, the engine whistling, bell ringing, men screaming, groaning, dying, the Federal troops running to meet the rebels, the engine derailed in the middle of the street, the hissing of escaping steam, rebels pouring out of box-cars, running into the fight, screaming ”Vive, La Mexico.”

Both sides began to run behind buildings, firing from behind, at anyone they saw, whether it be friend or enemy.

”We have to make that river somehow,” said Evelyn.

”My G.o.d--what do you think has happened to the other girls?” asked Pearl.

”They are probably in as bad a fix as we are,” answered Mickey, as a stray bullet shattered the windows of the lobby.

The rebels began to drive the Federals towards the river, amidst much shouting and shooting and excess bravado.

”I'll tell you what we will do,” said Evelyn. ”As the shooting moves toward the river, we will try to get out of here--I'll take my drawers off and put them on a pole like a flag of truce, and we will try and make it.”

”My G.o.d, what is that awful odor?” asked Pearl.

”That's horse manure, mixed with blood, that splattered on the side of this building when the train hit those horses,” explained Evelyn, as she was pulling off her underthings, putting them on the end of a yard stick she had found behind the deserted desk.

”Will we run for it, or how shall we try it?” asked Mickey.

”We'll ease out into the street, holding this flag up, then we will go up the middle of this street to the corner, and down that way to the bridge,” said Evelyn.

”Do you think they will shoot at us?” asked Pearl.

”Possibly, but I'm willing to bet that the only ones that have been killed in the fighting are the ones there in the street, that were killed by the train.”

<script>