Judge Harlin was trying to restrain Ellhorn’s enthusiasm over the idea of assaulting the jail. “No, Nick,” he said, “we don’t want to do anything illegal. We are all right so far, because we are here to protect human life and uphold the law. But the minute you throw yourself against the doors of the jail you forfeit the law’s protection and—”
“Here they come!” Nick interrupted excitedly. His quick ear had caught the hurried tramp of the approaching party.
With Daniels, Whittaker and Halliday in the lead and the others trailing on close behind, they came down the middle of the street on a half run, plainly revealed in the bright moonlight. They expected to find the Democrats battering down the jail door, if they were not already taking the prisoner out, and all their attention was turned toward that building. Presently they saw that the entrance and all the street round about were silent and apparently deserted, and they concluded that the rescuing party was already inside the jail. Daniels turned and made a hushing gesture.
“Softly, boys,” he said in a repressed voice. “Come along as quietly as you possibly can and get up to the door in a bunch. Have your guns ready.”
Scarcely were the words out of his mouth when from the darkness and silence of a portal a block beyond them came a flash and a report, and on the instant a dozen more blazed out along that side of the street, for half a block.
The sheriff’s party came to a sudden stop, stunned for a moment by the complete surprise. One of their number threw out his hands and sank down groaning into the dust.
“We’re ambushed, boys! It’s a trick!” shouted a man in the rear, and he started off as fast as his legs could carry him. Another and another followed his example, and three others picked up the wounded man and carried him away. Daniels and Halliday and three or four others returned the fire, guessing at the location of the enemy, but one of their party fell to the ground and another dropped his pistol as his arm suddenly went limp and helpless.
“It’s nothin’ but a trick to get us out here and kill us,” said Daniels.
“It’s no use to stand here and make targets of ourselves in the moonlight,” added Halliday. “We’d better get out as quick as we can.”
They picked up the wounded man, and supporting him between two others, sought the shadow of the sidewalk and hurried away, followed by a jeering “Whoo-oo-oo-ee” in Nick Ellhorn’s well-known voice.