“No, the hills are too high. We must fight these men off until morning and then see what we can do.”
“If we could only attract Ned’s attention someway,” said Jim. “Watch out, senorita!”
He fairly dragged her away from the window as a shot tore in through the glass and the blinds. She shook him off, but kept away from the exposed part.
“There is nothing—Ah, the tar barrel!” she exclaimed.
“Where is there a tar barrel?” asked Jim, quickly, as Terry fired his rifle out of another window.
“You see that hill?” asked the senorita, pointing to a low mound back of the ranch. “On top of that hill is a barrel which is half full of tar. I have been using it to repair my roofs, and it is half full. If that could only be lighted they would see it at Ned’s ranch.”
“That’s fine!” cried Jim. “I’ll light that tar barrel myself!”
“Senor, you will be killed!”
“Maybe!” said Jim, grimly. “But I’ll start that bonfire, anyway!”
He related his plan to Terry, who warmly assented, and a little later Jim worked his way to a side of the house where there was no shooting. Senorita Mercedes wanted to send her ranchman out on the perilous venture but Jim had opposed it.