He ran downstairs and again crept out into the dark patio. He had noticed in the afternoon that there were several bundles of straw in the stable. Taking one of these under his arm, he approached the angle in the wall near the outer gate. He lighted a match and as the flame caught the straw he flung the bundle over the wall, at the same time darting inside the stable. He had hardly found a safe position when the cannon spoke again and evidently with telling effect. But before those inside the walls had time to think, the enemy rushed in, determined to capture the place. In the dark they rushed to the house, but once under the gallery which extended all around the inside of the patio, they produced a light which enabled them to find the doors. The light also enabled Donald to see those at the door and he fired from the stable. For a moment the fire in the rear disconcerted the enemy and several fled, but others took possession of the doorway and forced their way in. The first one who entered fell by a bullet from Josie's revolver; but realizing her weakness she jumped and fled to the floor above, where she met her father coming down. "They have gained possession of the house," Mr. Black told Billie as he and the senora also descended from the roof. "We must now guard the stairway. We should be able to hold it indefinitely." This prediction seemed correct, as the first four or five men who attempted to reach the second story never got more than their heads above the floor. After several trials of this sort, they withdrew and held a council of war. The result was that a few minutes later a voice called out from below: "If you will surrender, your lives will be spared." In reply Mr. Black shouted: "If you do not withdraw and leave us in peace you will meet a fearful punishment." His reply was greeted with jeers. "I wonder how many of them there are?" queried Billie. "Quite a bunch from the sound." Then, a moment later, "They seem to be going out." "Maybe they think we will come down," said Josie. "But we must not," exclaimed the senora. "They would kill us. Surely our friend must bring us aid soon." "Let us hope so," was Mr. Black's reply. And hope was the best they could do. There was no further attack, although they could hear the sound of voices in the patio below. After a long period of quiet Mr. Black ventured the assertion that they were waiting for daylight, and his surmise proved correct. No attempt was made to force an entrance until the first faint light of day began to appear. Then there was renewed activity below and a few minutes later the sound of a single shot. "I wonder what that was," exclaimed Billie. No one could answer, but had Billie been where he could see, he would have known that it was Donald who fired.