Quintell overheard him. “I’m glad you appreciate that fact, Mr. Sangerly,” he remarked with a harsh chuckle. “If I may be permitted to say it, you’re all in imminent danger of your lives. I would advise you to see that I’m set free. Otherwise, I won’t be responsible for consequences. This man is a criminal. It is ridiculous to believe that he will turn me over to the sheriff—to the very man who is looking for him. He’s bluffing.”
“We’ll see about that,” said Billy Gee curtly. “Come on—get a-goin’! If yore friends start shootin’, so do I. I’ve bin waitin’ for this chance too long, Miles. I’m goin’ through with it now. Better you take the sidewalk, Dot,” he added gently. “There’s trouble comin’, I reckon. Tell Lex to hurry on ahead to the Miners’ Hotel an’ notify Warburton we’re on our way. He’ll know where to meet us. Take down this back street, Miles, an’ watch yore step!”
The street he indicated was a deserted back thoroughfare paralleling the main one of the camp. The rear of the Miners’ Hotel faced it, and a little distance farther on, was the gate leading into the yard back of the dry-goods store through which Billy Gee had flitted on many a midnight to visit his mother.
With Quintell obeying the outlaw’s command, the group turned to enter the side street. Their footfalls rang out sharply on the rocky ground. Following the explosion, a profound silence had fallen on the settlement, broken only by the sound of galloping hoofs as Warburton’s deputies dashed for the scene of destruction.
Suddenly a wild shout rose out of the gloom of the side street. It swelled into a roar, coming from all directions. In a twinkling, the thoroughfare became alive with men, pouring from every conceivable hiding place in the vicinity. Lex and his father cried out a warning. The former caught Dot by the arm.
“Come! Run! They’ll trample us!” he shouted.
But she shook him off, her eyes flashing with a resolute fire. “I’m all right. Take care of your father and Pete. Get them away!” Her voice was harsh, commanding.
The outlaw gave a short laugh. Lex hesitated an instant, then started off on a run for the sidewalk, dragging his father with him. They collided with the onrushing horde of furious men and went wallowing. Tinnemaha Pete, his old brain grasping the peril of the situation at the first alarm, escaped the crush and fled like mad for the Miners’ Hotel.
Meanwhile, Billy Gee’s disengaged hand had fastened on Quintell’s coat collar. He jerked the boss around out of the treacherous darkness and headed him for the brilliantly lighted main street, a block away. His six-shooter was boring into his prisoner’s back, cutting into the flesh.
“Talk to ’em, Miles!” he hissed into the other’s ear. “Talk to ’em fast, Miles, or I let go!”