puzzled by the irresolution of the other side.

"Watch out! they're gittin' round ye! Run for the court-house, ye
fools !-ye, run! " The voice came in a loud yell from somewhere
down the street, and its warning was just in time.

A wreath of smoke came about a corner of the house far down the
street, and young Jasper yelled, and dashed up a side alley with his
followers. A moment later judge, jury, witnesses, and sheriff were
flying down the court-house steps at the point of Lewallen guns;
the Lewallen horses, led by the gray, were snorting through the
streets; their riders, barricaded in the forsaken court-house, were
puffing a stream of fire and smoke from every window of
court-room below and jury-room above.

The streets were a bedlam. The Stetsons were yelling with
triumph. The Lewallens were divided, and Rufe placed three
Stetsons with Winchesters on each side of the courthouse, and kept
them firing. Rome, pale and stern, hid his force between the
square and the Lewallen store. He was none too quick. The rest
were coming on, led by old Jasper. It was reckless, riding that
way right into death; but the old man believed young Jasper's life
at stake, and the men behind asked no questions when old Jasper
led them. The horses' hoofs beat the dirt street like the crescendo
of thunder. The fierce old man's hat was gone, and his mane-like
hair was shaking in the wind. Louder-and still the Stetsons were
quiet-quiet too long. The wily old man saw the trap, and, with a
yell, whirled the column up an alley, each man flattening over his
saddle. From every window, from behind every corner and tree,
smoke belched from the mouth of a Winchester. Two horses went