“Don’t talk rot.”
“Look for yourselves, then.”
Eliphalet stepped out into the clearing, and the light of the moon showed his features with a ghastly precision.
One of the girls gave a nervous laugh, and several men turned to each other with apprehensive glances.
“Lord, he’s turned up!” said one.
“This is going too far,” said another. “We ought to stop it. Here!”
A hand was clapped over his mouth by Harrington May’s staunchest supporter.
“Don’t spoil the fun. He’s only bluffing.”
Then Manning spoke again.
“Wish I knew which way they are going to stand,” he said. “Likely as not one of us’ll pick up a stray bullet.”