"There, you see, we want to humor you, and if we were not friends we shouldn't do that," said Frank Shirley, trembling in voice and frame from his recent effort.
Sam's reply showed that he had no faith in this.
"My rifle is good for a half-mile. If you are within reach in ten minutes I'll begin to fire."
"See h'ar, young feller," called out Badger, "do you know what I think of you?"
"No, and I don't care."
"I think you're a devil."
"All right. Start, for the ten minutes have begun."
The four men did start. It would have been nothing less than suicide, the landlord said, to remain there and be shot at, "more particlar whin there was no show to shoot back."
Sullenly the men rode off, and when they had gone out of rifle-reach they came to a halt, and after much swearing all round, Shirley asked:
"Well, gentlemen, what's to be done next?"