"I'm killed—I'm murdered—I'm done for! Oh, Lord! just let me get at the villain that fired that shot and I'll tear his heart out!" Then, with another yell, Old Mag dashed forward, and with the blood streaming from a wound in her breast, threw herself upon Bissell.
Barney and his friends seeing the confusion, now attempted to escape.
The attempt was useless. But their blood was up and they made a hard fight for it. Pistol reports echoed and re-echoed through the vaulted cavern, and to one standing by it would have seemed as though two regiments were fighting.
At length it was over, and Old Spicer, who, fortunately, had escaped uninjured, began to sum up the results.
Emory Bissell was dead—killed by old Mag, who lay gasping out her life by his side.
Barney Hawks was also dead; no less than three bullets had entered his body, any one of which would have finished him.
Bill Bunce was severely wounded and a prisoner.
Pete Coffey and Clarky surrendered when they saw there was no use in holding out longer.
On the side of the law, one local officer was killed and another badly wounded. Adam Killett and Seth Stricket were also slightly hurt.
Pete Coffey and Clarky were placed in the local lock-up, and the New York reporter, who was on hand in the village, but who had not got an inkling of what was going on at the bay, or up in the cavern, was, at his own request, locked up with Pete as a prisoner, in order to wheedle a full confession out of him.