“They’ll get the door open in a minute,” the boy muttered to himself, and he determined to be ready for them.
There was a click, and Jimmy knew that the intruders had succeeded in forcing the lock. A moment later the top of the stall door swung inward.
The light from a lantern flashed into Jimmy’s face, and he saw a hand stretched forth to open the catch of the bottom door. He saw two faces, one of which he recognized as that of Jones. The other man he had never seen before.
Without stopping to think, Jimmy raised his revolver and fired, even as Jones, having caught sight of the lad, uttered an exclamation of dismay.
A groan followed the shot and then Jimmy heard Jones cry:
“Quick, Dick! He is armed. Put out the light!”
A moment more and complete darkness enveloped the stable.
Jimmy dropped to the ground, keeping as close to the wall as he could, for he did not want to get in the way of Gabriel’s hoofs. Frightened by the shot, Gabriel was rearing and plunging about. Several times his forefeet came down close to Jimmy’s head, but fortunately the lad was untouched.
Then, as Gabriel became more quiet, Jimmy again heard a hand fumbling at the catch, and caught a muttered voice:
“If we can get in we’ll soon settle him!”