We have made a study of taking it apart and putting it together on the table in the cave.
Once we had it apart and could not get it together for two days.
Since then we have not had it apart."
"Does it shoot now?"
"Yes.
But we do not let the gypsy nor others frig with it."
"You see?
From there it was useless," he said.
"Look. Those rocks which should protect your flanks give cover to those who will attack you.
With such a gun you must seek a flatness over which to fire.
Also you must take them sideways.
See?
Look now.
All that is dominated."
"I see," said Agustin.
"But we have never fought in defense except when our town was taken.
At the train there were soldiers with the _maquina_."
"Then we will all learn together," Robert Jordan said.
"There are a few things to observe.
Where is the gypsy who should be here?" "I do not know." "Where is it possible for him to be?"
"I do not know."
Pablo had ridden out through the pass and turned once and ridden in a circle across the level space at the top that was the field of fire for the automatic rifle.
Now Robert Jordan watched him riding down the slope alongside the tracks the horse had left when he was ridden in.
He disappeared in the trees turning to the left.
I hope he doesn't run right into cavalry, Robert Jordan thought.
I'm afraid we'd have him right here in our laps.
Primitivo brought the pine branches and Robert Jordan stuck them through the snow into the unfrozen earth, arching them over the gun from either side.
"Bring more," he said.
"There must be cover for the two men who serve it.
This is not good but it will serve until the ax comes.
Listen," he said, "if you hear a plane lie flat wherever thou art in the shadows of the rocks.
I am here with the gun."
Now with the sun up and the warm wind blowing it was pleasant on the side of the rocks where the sun shone.
Four horses, Robert Jordan thought.
The two women and me, Anselmo, Primitivo, Fernando, Agustin, what the hell is the name of the other brother?
That's eight.
Not counting the gypsy.
Makes nine.
Plus Pablo gone with one horse makes ten.
Andres is his name. The other brother.
Plus the other, Eladio.
Makes ten.
That's not one-half a horse apiece.
Three men can hold this and four can get away.
Five with Pablo.
That's two left over. Three with Eladio.
Where the hell is he?
God knows what will happen to Sordo today if they picked up the trail of those horses in the snow.
That was tough; the snow stopping that way.
But it melting today will even things up.