The silence of their enemy behind the intrenchments on La Mesa sent a thrill of terror through the advancing hundreds. Their dead and dying behind them told them only too plainly the power of these concealed guns. They imagined the silence was but a trick to draw them nearer, then hurl on them a stream of bullets that would mow them down like chaff before the reaper. Fifty yards from the top of the hill they stood still, their contorted faces white with a terrible fear. Phil saw Juarez rush ahead of his demoralized men, urging them to advance. The glad rattle of a Colt gun rang in the lad’s ears. He saw O’Neil beside it; he had wiped out the hard obstructing substance. The gun again played its death-dealing stream on the doubting enemy. The rebels, impelled from behind, advanced slowly. Phil saw Juarez sink to the ground; the tide of soldiers streamed over his lifeless body; again they wavered, then came on more determinedly than ever. O’Neil’s gun jammed again with an ominous click. The enemy were now only a stone’s throw away from the trench; a few seconds more and they would be pouring over its top and butchering those who dared remain. Phil grasped his revolver, and leaned against the wall of earth behind him. CHAPTER XVII THE ACCUSATION “Down for your lives,” cried O’Neil, grasping the benumbed lads, and dragging them to the bottom of the trench. A heavy fusillade of musketry from behind them, a stamping of many feet in their rear, then a swarm of humanity had pressed in close to the almost empty trench and were emptying the contents of their rifles at the surprised enemy but a rod away. The lads were filled with joy; the reserves had arrived. Phil peered out between the loyal rifles around him at the startled, disappointed enemy; they had been sure of victory until this second and now, their ranks depleted by hundreds left on the naked field behind them, they had still opposed to them a formidable force of loyal soldiers, whose number they did not know. Their confidence had flown; this terrible hill had been a death trap, while they had been assured of an easy and bloodless victory. For an instant they hesitated; then they turned and retreated, a scathing fire from the coveted trenches impelling them onward in their flight for safety. The excitement among the government troops was intense. The three Americans were cheered to the echo by the wildly joyful soldiers. A group of horsemen galloped up the hill; they approached the trenches amid welcoming cries from the men. “Come, Syd, we can do no more here,” Phil cried breathlessly. “Let’s get away quickly.” With O’Neil, they pressed their way through the jubilant natives, but had gone but a short distance when they were stopped by a horseman; he reined in his foaming steed, swung himself from his saddle and placed himself smilingly before them. “Our president desires to meet our American allies,” he cried proudly.