Reginald Wright Kauffman

“ The sentry at the door, whose noninterference had once been commanded, showed signs of convalescing intelligence. Villeta, Dan, and Hoagland were just around the turn of the door when Dan, falling forward, managed to grasp one of his captor's ankles. Don Ramon was caught in mid-stride; he tumbled with a resounding bump.
Heavy men are hard to throw, but, if they are thrown, it is heavily. For one instant Villeta lay so still that the sentry's whole mind was given to him, and during that broken moment, the Americans scrambled to their feet and stared at each other. ”

“ A couple of other men shouldered after him and fell on Dan, who shot one, but missed the other; he did not greatly care so long as Villeta and Peña remained alive to threaten Gertruda—and Peña had not yet so much as appeared.
The doorway was narrow. The attackers, crowding hard and without order, had to come in only three at a time. An ugly fellow with lopped ears postured at the threshold and flourished his machete. Hoagland saw him and, raising his wrist despite the pressure Don Ramon had on it, fired; one earhole became a slash of blood ”

“ Dan drew Hoagland to the window. “You're right,” said he. “Look!” And he pointed meaningly straight down the precipitous outer wall. “We can't make it that way; never in the world! And we can't escape by the door—and the door can't hold forever. We're trapped. It's only a question of time!”
The secret-service man, one eye on the reverberating portal, tapped Dan's shoulder:
“A question of time; that's just it. We must hold out as long as we can. But even then——”
A roar and a smash interrupted him. Don Ramon's peons had arrived in force. Their machetes hacked at the door ”