THE NORTHERN MYSTERY 259 



soldiers were stationed upon the river bank 

 some little distance from the house ; their 

 part in the affair was simply passive, their 

 presence being sufficient to interpose betwixt 

 the besieged and outside aid. 



The back-door of the house gave on the 

 foot-hills, and against this door the full fury 

 of the attack was directed. A continuous 

 fire kept up from eleven o'clock in the morn- 

 ing until nightfall riddled the door with 

 holes, and deterred the besieged from making 

 any defence, there being, as is often the case 

 in old adobe houses, no windows on that 

 side. 



Under cover of the darkness the attacking 

 force sent across to the hotel on the other 

 bank of the river. There they procured 

 a quantity of kerosene oil, which one of 

 their number proceeded to pour through 

 the holes in the door, soaking the floor 

 within, his comrades firing over his head 

 the while in order to distract the attention 

 of the besieged. A few lighted matches 

 finished the business. While the flames, 

 fanned by the draught, gathered strength 

 and volume, shots continued to rain like 



172 



