"Well, neither Mr. Hardman, nor his friend, nor both of them will ever get the drop on us."
The flashing eyes and determined expression left no doubt of the lad's earnestness.
"Is that because you carry a Winchester and they have only their revolvers?"
"It would make no difference if both of them had rifles."
Roswell was thoughtful.
"It is very well, Frank, to be brave, but there's nothing gained by butting your head against a stone wall. Suppose, now, that, in passing the next bend in this path, you should see Hardman waiting for you with his gun aimed, and he should call out to you to surrender, what would you do?"
"Let fly at him as quickly as I could raise my gun to a level."
"And he would shoot before you could do that."
"I'll take the chances," was the rash response.
"I hope you will not have to take any chances like that—"