“You-all ain’t gone yit!” he cried harshly. “Well, you’re sure goin’ now, an’ right quick, too!”
“What’s the matter with you?” said Joe soothingly. “You didn’t really expect us to leave, did you?”
“We won’t anyway!” put in Carl, hotly. “We’ve got a right here, and you can’t make us—”
“Hush up!” returned the pirate, with a violent thrust of his rifle-muzzle into Carl’s stomach, so violent that the boy doubled up, staggered a couple of yards, and tumbled. Blue Bob strode past him. Joe threw up his own rifle, but met Candler’s muzzle leveled upon him.
“Don’t you start nothin’, now!” Candler growled. “Keep still if you don’t want to be hurted.”
The boys stood irresolute for a fatal minute. Blue Bob walked straight to the cabin, and was about to step upon the little veranda when the screened window-frame swung open, and Alice appeared inside. She looked white but determined, and she was training her long target pistol straight upon the intruder’s chest.
“Stop where you are!” she commanded. “One step f-farther, and I’ll certainly s-shoot!”
The blue-faced man stopped with a startled jerk. He gazed in astonishment at Alice behind her pistol, and then broke into a short laugh.
“Don’t shoot, ma’am,” he said. “I reckon I ain’t a-comin’ in.”
He wheeled about, and walked back to where Candler and Joe were still glaring at one another.