If he failed, then he was an impoverished outcast with the stain of murder on his soul, though all the chances were that if Sam Willett was permitted to reach Hurley's Gulch, the vigilantes would arrest himself and Badger for the death of Tom Edwards.
Quickly he looked over the situation, and his cowardly heart took on a show of courage; it was the courage of desperation, as he realized how much depended on his conduct this night.
"I can't say that I'm much of a fighter, having had no experience that way," said Shirley with a tremor in his voice. "But, Badger, if you lead the way, I'll follow to the end. We must finish this job to-night."
"If we don't it'll finish us," said Badger grimly.
[CHAPTER XXXV.—A NIGHT BATTLE.]
Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.
He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.
"What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.
"Mistah Sam."
"Yes, Ike."