The women of the house might have gotten some sleep that night, but it was certain the men did not get any.  Morning broke cold and gray, the 19th of February.  Breakfast was prepared earlier than usual, and an air of suppressed waiting excitement pervaded the place.  Otherwise the ordinary details of the morning’s work continued as on any other day.  Ladd came in hungry and cold, and said the Mexicans were not breaking camp.  He reported a good-sized force of rebels, and was taciturn as to his idea of forthcoming events.

About an hour after sunrise Yaqui ran in with the information that part of the rebels were crossing the river.

“That can’t mean a fight yet,” declared Belding.  “But get in the house, boys, and make ready anyway.  I’ll meet them.”

“Drive them off the place same as if you had a company of soldiers backin’ you,” said Ladd.  “Don’t give them an inch.  We’re in bad, and the bigger bluff we put up the more likely our chance.”

“Belding, you’re an officer of the United States.  Mexicans are much impressed by show of authority.  I’ve seen that often in camp,” said Thorne.

“Oh, I know the white-livered Greasers better than any of you, don’t mistake me,” replied Belding.  He was pale with rage, but kept command over himself.

The rangers, with Yaqui and Thorne, stationed themselves at the several windows of the sitting-room.  Rifles and smaller arms and boxes of shells littered the tables and window seats.  No small force of besiegers could overcome a resistance such as Belding and his men were capable of making.

“Here they come, boys,” called Gale, from his window.

“Rebel-raiders I should say, Laddy.”

“Shore.  An’ a fine outfit of buzzards!”

“Reckon there’s about a dozen in the bunch,” observed the calm Lash.  “Some hosses they’re ridin’.  Where ’n the hell do they get such hosses, anyhow?”

“Shore, Jim, they work hard an’ buy ’em with real silver pesos,” replied Ladd, sarcastically.

“Do any of you see Rojas?” whispered Thorne.

“Nix.  No dandy bandit in that outfit.”

“It’s too far to see,” said Gale.

The horsemen halted at the corrals.  They were orderly and showed no evidence of hostility.  They were, however, fully armed.  Belding stalked out to meet them.  Apparently a leader wanted to parley with him, but Belding would hear nothing.  He shook his head, waved his arms, stamped to and fro, and his loud, angry voice could be heard clear back at the house.  Whereupon the detachment of rebels retired to the bank of the river, beyond the white post that marked the boundary line, and there they once more drew rein.  Belding remained by the corrals watching them, evidently still in threatening mood.  Presently a single rider left the troop and trotted his horse back down the road.  When he reached the corrals he was seen to halt and pass something to Belding.  Then he galloped away to join his comrades.