From the parade ground in front, small detachments of Mexicans could be seen running toward different parts of the town.
"Are you going to fire on them ?" asked Darrin.
"Not unless the Mexicans fire on us, or I receive orders to fire," the lieutenant answered.

"I don't want to do anything to disarrange the admiral's plans for the day, and at present I know no more than you do of what is expected of us." Suddenly the air became alive with the hiss of bullets.
"I see the rascals," cried Dave pointing upward.

"They're on the top of that building ahead." Trent saw the sharpshooters, too.

Perhaps twenty Mexican infantrymen occupied the roof of a building a few hundred yards ahead.

Some were lying flat, showing only their heads at the edge of the roof.
Others were kneeling, but all were firing industriously.
"Forward, a few steps at a time," ordered the lieutenant.