We were in darkness, and they were in full light, the flames flashing up, and giving a strangely picturesque aspect to the group.
“Soon jobbed that job,” said the big fellow. “How they ran! wonder whether they got any dust.”
“You ought to have searched ’em,” said the second. “I know they had, or they wouldn’t have run.”
“Cock,” whispered Gunson, as there was a momentary pause; and the men all started, and their hands went to their hips for their pistols, as the ominous clicking of our pieces was heard.
“Bail up!” roared Gunson, his voice pealing out of the darkness; “you are covered by rifles, and the man who moves dies.”
There was an angry growl, and the men threw up their hands, one of them holding a pistol.
“Put that iron away,” roared Gunson; and the man slowly replaced it, and then raised his hands like his fellows.
“Now go back the way you came, or strike up further,” said Gunson, firmly. “Show your faces here again, and it is at your own risk, for I shoot at sight. Off!”
There was a low muttering growl at this, and the men walked slowly away in the direction by which they had come, while we sat listening till there was not a sound.
“Gone,” I said, with the painful beating of my heart calming down.