For him it proved an imprudent act. It was the last shot he ever fired. It hurt no one; but he himself dropped dead the instant after, riddled by the bullets of our revolvers. The rest surrendered without further show of fight; and in a minute more were our prisoners. The shots, of course, carried the surprise inside; but instead of the door being thrown open, we saw that it was quickly barricaded! We discovered this on attempting to force it open, and also that it had been contrived with an eye to such contingency! While occupied in front of it we were saluted with a volley from above; while the besieged brigands were seen over the parapet of the azotea. Before we could answer the fire, their heads were "ducked;" and we were compelled to stand with guns undischarged, or send our shots idly into the air. I felt that we were foiled. My comrades shared the thought. A rifleman lay, wounded, among our feet. A second had dropped upon his knees; while three or four others had been scathed by scattering shots. We stood in a position completely exposed. To hack down the door would take time. Before it could be done, we might look for a second discharge from the housetop, with an uneven chance of returning it: for we now saw that the parapet was _crenelled_; rudely, it is true, but sufficient for the protection of its defenders. We felt loth to retreat. There seemed a chance to shelter ourselves close to the wall; and some, yielding to instinct, had done so. But several heavy blocks of stone were hurled down from above--proving the position untenable. There was no help for it but retreat to the cover of the trees; and this we did, taking our crippled comrades along with us. We had lost but little time. The interval of indecision occupied only a few seconds; and, before the bandits had got their carbines ready for a fresh fusilade, we were safely sheltered against such "sharpshooters" as they. CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. A SCOUNDREL SAFELY SCREENED. Though for the time disconcerted, we had no thought of retreating. The unsuccessful assault but rendered my men more determined--besides still further embittering them against the despised foe. Fortunately the wounds received by their comrades were not mortal, though it needed not this to provoke their vengeance. The situation of the two captives--now thoroughly comprehended by every one--was sufficient to check all thoughts of retiring from the strife--even had the enemy far outnumbered us. As it was, we still believed that we had them in the trap, and it was only a question of time and strategy to bring the affair to a termination. By withdrawing to the trees we had obtained a more advantageous position. It gave us a better chance of aiming at any object on the azotea; and as the sky was each instant becoming clearer, we could distinguish the loopholes along the parapet.