“Hello, there! Here’s somebody! Who are you?”

The yearlings shrank back in alarm, that is, all of them except Bull. Bull pressed forward eagerly, and a moment later found himself surrounded by a group of men, armed with sticks and all sorts of weapons. One of them, a tall man with the lantern and a shotgun in his other hand, walked up to Bull and peered into his face.

“What are you doing—​” he began, but Bull was in too much of a hurry to let him finish.

“You the sheriff?” he demanded.

“Yes, I am.”

“Hunting for those lunatics, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Well, come on, then, quick as you can, for I know where they are.”

And then the yearlings realized what Bull Harris meant to do.

“How do you know?” demanded the officer.