he jail you forfeit the law's
protection and--"

"Here they come!" Nick interrupted excitedly. His quick ear had caught
the hurried tramp of the approaching party.

With Daniels, Whittaker and Halliday in the lead and the others
trailing on close behind, they came down the middle of the street on a
half run, plainly revealed in the bright moonlight. They expected to
find the Democrats battering down the jail door, if they were not
already taking the prisoner out, and all their attention was turned
toward that building. Presently they saw that the entrance and all the
street round about were silent and apparently deserted, and they
concluded that the rescuing party was already inside the jail. Daniels
turned and made a hushing gesture.

"Softly, boys," he said in a repressed voice. "Come along as quietly
as you possibly can and get up to the door in a bunch. Have your guns
ready."

Scarcely were the words out of his mouth when from the darkness and
silence of a _portal_ a block beyond them came a flash and a report,
and on the instant a dozen more blazed out along that side of the
street, for half a block.

The sheriff's party came to a sudden stop, stunned for a moment by the
complete surprise. One of their number threw out his hands and sank
down groaning into the dust.

"We're ambushed, boys! It's a trick!" shouted a man in the rear, and
he started off as fast as his legs could carry him. Another and
another followed his example, and three others picked up the wounded
man and carried him away. Daniels and Halliday and three or four
others returned the fire, guessing at the location of the enemy, but
one of their party fell to the ground and another dropped his pistol
as his arm suddenly went limp and helpless.

"It's nothin' but a trick to get us out here and kill us," said
Daniels.

"It's no use to stand here and make targets of ourselves in the
moonlight," added Halliday. "We'd better get out as quick as we can."

They picked up the wounded man, and supporting him between two others,
sought the shadow of the sidewalk and hurried away, followed by a
jeering "Whoo-oo-oo-ee" in Nick Ellhorn's well-known voice.

"No more shooting, boys!" shouted Judge Harlin. "We've buffaloed
'em--let 'em go!"

"You're always spoilin' the fun, Judge," Nick complained. "This job
was too easy! Now, did you ever see such a pack of cowards start on a
lynchin' bee? But I reckon they've learned one lesson and won't try to
lync