At the second assault the lock was broken.

Dave dashed into the hotel at the head of his squad.
"Straight to the roof, Ensign Darrin!" shouted Lieutenant Trent.
"Ensign Dalzell, you will take ten men and endeavor to find the American women." Then Trent, with the remainder of the command, rushed on after the advance guard.

Up the stairs dashed Dave in the lead.

The skylight proved not to be fastened.
Only a minute before had the machine gun stopped its murderous hail.

Now some thirty Mexican soldiers crept to the edge of the roof to try their luck again with the sailormen up the street.
"There is only a handful of them," shouted one Mexican.