Suddenly Wild Bill held up his hand for silence, his head extended forward in front of his body in an intense listening attitude.
"By heavens they're shooting!" he cried.
"To horse, all that have them!" roared the leader. "The rest jump on behind. Unsling your rifles as you go.
"Half go to the rear and the other half to the front. Smash the door in and shoot quick and fast."
By this time they were half way down the clearing. But those within were too busily engaged with their own affairs now to notice the bandits sweeping down upon them.
"You fellows in the rear duck and look out for our bullets if we get in first. If you break in before we do, we'll lay low!" was Frank's parting injunction to his men as they separated.
Leaping from their saddles the outlaws rushed on the door which went crashing in under their combined weight.
The room was so full of powder smoke that at first they were unable to distinguish a single object.
"Here I am over in this corner," roared Jesse. "Shoot the other way!"