“Yes, and it will go off,” cried Jarette. “I mean to be obeyed by this crew, as I’ve just shown you.”
“Nay, but don’t poke pestles in my face; ’cause it make me hit out, and when I hits out I hurts. You ask some one else.”
“Bah!” ejaculated Jarette; and the word sounded like the short, sharp bark of some cur, as it reached us through the barricade.
“Goin’ to plant it yourself?” said Bob Hampton.
“Yes, you brave Englishman,” sneered Jarette. “I’m going to show you what your captain can do.”
“Shoot the scoundrel!” said Captain Berriman, excitedly.
“Impossible, without he comes into sight,” whispered Mr Denning.
“Can’t you see him?”
“No; he is pushing a bag of powder right in up against the door, and now sprinkling handfuls of powder up to it.”
“You come away,” said the captain. “Quick, man! Here, every one lie down at the far end of the saloon.”