"How many of you are there?"

"Four, Yorky," Fraser replied.

"There are six of us. We've got you outnumbered, boys."

Very faintly there came to the lieutenant the beat of horses' feet. He
sparred for time.

"What do you want, Yorky?"

"You know what we want. That murderer you've got there-- that's what
we want."

"We're taking him in to be tried, Yorky. Justice will be done to him."

"Not at Gimlet Butte it won't. No jury will convict him for killing
Jed Briscoe, from Lost Valley. We're going to hang him, right now."

"You'll have to fight for him, my friend, and before you do that I
want you to understand the facts."

"We understand all the facts we need to, right now."

The lieutenant rode forward alone. He knew that soon they too would
hear the rhythmic beat of the advancing posse.

"We've got all night to settle this, boys. Let's do what is fair and
square. That's all I ask."