William Hepworth Dixon, White Conquest: Volume 1

[89] how many men were near, to note how many of those men would fight, and learn where Snyder kept his gold. Moreno followed them. Vasquezand Chavez lay out of sight. On coming to Tres Pinos, Leiva saluted Snyder, asking him to have a drink. Snyder complied. A dozen loafers hung about the store. Two of these men were pals of Leiva, ready to assist him with their knives. Gonzalez hitched his horse, and took his post. A team belonging to a man named Haley drove up, on which Snyder left his store, and most of his neighbours followed him out into the road. Five or six loafers stayed behind. Moreno entered by a side-door with his pistol cocked. “Lie down!” he hissed between his teeth. “Down, down!” repeated Leiva. As the loafers dropped, Leiva held Moreno's weapon, while that brigand rolled them over, tied their hands and feet, and turned their faces to the wall. A rag was thrown on each, so that he could see nothing; and Leiva told them, with a string of oaths, that any one who either moved a limb or raised a murmur should be blown to pieces. Snyder was still chatting with Haley in the road, when Chavez came up, and asked him to go in, and find