"John Bruce," the girl said. "You give Mr. Garth a chance to explain. He didn't do this without a reason."
"Aw, Jennie," the tall youth beside her answered. "You keep out of this. Garth brought us here without asking us, and he's darned well going to take us back."
"But I can't," Lee Garth said firmly.
Silence fell.
In the silence Stella whispered. "Mr. Garth, we had better run, if we can. They won't listen, they don't want to listen. They're scared, and dangerous."
The difference between a crowd and a mob is an angry voice expressing the thoughts lurking in the minds of all.
"You can't return us, eh?" the angry voice said. "Well, we'll just fix your clock. Come on, boys!"
Lee Garth would have stayed, but Stella pushed him, got him started. He fought his way through the circle of men. Then the two were running.
The mob gave chase.
The crack of a pistol shuddered behind them. A slug tore into a tree near Garth. The gun boomed again. Angry men screamed.