"There's no chance by which any one could get from here to the store, while that gang of murderers keep watch over all our movements."
"It is nearly night. In an hour it will be too dark for them to see what is going on."
"Who will take the risk of trying to slip past them?"
"I will."
"You'll be in a worse box than Sam is, if they catch you."
"Something must be done, and since you can't spare anybody to go to the poor fellow's assistance I'm ready to take my chances while trying to help him."
Donovan did not reply until after looking carefully around as if calculating the probabilities of success, and then he said:
"I've a mind to let you attempt it. If the soldiers don't arrive before morning, and Billings' crowd are coming through the old shaft as you say, we must have help soon, or give up the fight. There is a chance you will get past all right, and I'm certain we can expect no one to come unless we say it is impossible to hold out longer."
"I am ready to go."
"Very well; wait until it is dark, an' then you may make a try for it."