They had killed his horse and sought to take his life.

Even now they would shoot him down without mercy, and as a pastime, if the opportunity offered.

Knowing this, and realizing his danger if those men should discover him, the young American still hesitated to fire from ambush and take human life in cold blood.
That others did not feel as he did about such things was shown while he hesitated, for the two beef-riders had been in sight but a few seconds when there came a flash and a roar of guns from the opposite side of the road, a little beyond where Ridge was hiding.

Both the guerillas fell as though struck by a thunder-bolt, and their blue-clad forms lay motionless across Senorita's body.

Her death was amply avenged.
At this startling demonstration in his behalf, Ridge sprang to his feet in full view of half a dozen men, ragged and swarthy, who were running down the road with yells of delight.