The men continued to shoot at the retreating cowboys. One of them pitched sidewise off his horse, and his horse came back toward the stable. Reber’s men mounted swiftly and swept down on the ranch.
A man ran from the stable-door, trying to get around the corner, but a hail of bullets cut him down. He went flat on his side, rolled over and fired one shot in return. Park Reber jerked back in his saddle and slid to the ground.
At that same moment one of the men yelled warningly. The outside roothouse door was flung open and out came Jack Silver, carrying June Meline across one arm. He staggered, flung up his right hand to shoot at them, but tripped over an old water-bucket and fell flat.
Several cowboys threw themselves upon him before he could get up, and held him tightly. They yanked him to his feet, and others took charge of June.
“Well, yuh got me, I guess,” panted Jack.
“I guess we have!” snorted a cowboy. “Yo’re all through, you dirty half-breed.”
Jack shut his lips tightly.
“Reber’s been hit hard,” said one of the men. “That feller down at the stable got him.”
They led Jack around to where Reber was lying. But Jack paid no attention to Reber; he was staring at old Buck Priest, who was barely able to sit in his saddle.
Park Reber had the men lift him to a sitting position. He looked at Jack Silver closely.