"It's too late for that kind of talk, boys. The question for us is, what had we best do? Anybody got anything to say?"
There was another moment of glum, sulky silence, and then a perfect storm of angry outcries.
"Charge in on 'em!"
"Kill every soul of 'em."
"Fight right away."
"We won't lose all that's in them wagons."
"That'll do, boys. I know you've got all the grit for a fight," said Captain Skinner, "but suppose they're too much for us, and wipe us all out, what then?"
"Then that's what it'll have to be, Cap. We're ready."
"All right, boys. But no matter what comes, not a man of you must run. Not for a yard."
"We'll stand by ye, Cap."