"Done for—Thanks!" he gasped. "You better—" The effort at speech ended in a gasp.
The sound of running boots on the gravel, followed by a peremptory knock, indicated the arrival of the posse.
"Open up! This is the law!" an imperative voice called.
Sally tugged at the wounded man. "Stall 'em off!" she whispered tensely. "I'll get him back inside."
With a hopeless gesture, Marlin tried to restrain her. "We'll only get ourselves in dutch—We can't hope to—"
Her look of scorn checked the protest. Shrugging, he lifted the desperately wounded man and supported him into the tunnel. Once erect, the outlaw seemed able to stumble along by leaning heavily on the bare-footed girl. Marlin closed the door and gave attention to the increasing demands from out in front.
He unlatched the swinging window.
"What's up?" he demanded.
A stocky figure detached itself from the group of twelve or fifteen bunched around the door.
"You're obstructing the law! Open that door!"