Frank threw back his head, defiance and scorn written on his handsome face.
"It is a clean case of murder, at best!" he cried, his voice ringing out clearly. "We deserve a fair trial—we demand it!"
"Wal," drawled the boy moonshiner, "I warned you-uns that ther more yer demanded, ther less yer got. Ye seem ter fergit that."
"We're in fur it, Frankie, me b'y!" groaned Barney.
"If we had our revolvers, we'd give them a stiff fight for it!" grated Frank, fiercely. "They would not murder us till a few of them had eaten lead!"
Muriel seemed to nod with satisfaction.
"You-uns has stuff, an' when I tell yer that ye'll have ter sta' ter vote ur take chances with ther cards, I don't judge you'll hesitate. It's one ur t'other."
"Then, make it the cards," said Frank, hoarsely. "That will give us an even show, if the draw is a fair one."
"I'll see ter that," assured Muriel. "It shall be fair."
Without another word, he turned and swiftly slipped out of the room. They heard him bar the door, and then they stood looking into each other's faces, speechless for a few moments.