"I don't have any plan," declared Stubbs, "but seems to me you could
think of a better one. To rush through those fellows ahead means a
fight, a that's why you decided on that plan. I'm against a fight at
all hazards."

"So I perceive," said McKenzie dryly.

"Well; you stick along anyhow, Stubbs," said Chester.

"Oh, I'll stick," said Stubbs, "but I'm going to tell you right now I
don't think I'm going to do you any good."

"Well, if we are decided," said Hal, "we might as well go on. We'll
show our passports again and it may be we'll get through without
question. However, something tells me we are going to have trouble, so
get your guns ready."

"If you think we're going to have trouble, I'm absolutely positive of
it," Stubbs mumbled to himself.

However, each looked to his weapons and made sure that they were in
working order.

"One of us has got to get through," said Chester in a low voice. "Who
has the list, Stubbs?"

"Hal," was the response.

"Then Hal must get through no matter what happens to the rest of us,"