or and at the same
instant Morrow aimed a sidewise, sweeping kick at Carpenter's ankles.
As the marshal went down his head struck the corner post of a bunk and
he did not rise.

With a single sweep Morrow caught the back of his chair and swung it
above his head for the spot which Waddles had occupied at the instant
the light went out. The weapon splintered in his hands as it found its
mark, and as the big man struck the dirt floor Morrow leaped for the
dim light which indicated the open door.

A huge paw clamped on one ankle and a back-handed wrench sent him
flying across the room to the far wall. With a sweep of the other hand
Waddles slammed the door with a bang that jarred the cabin.

"We've got 'em trapped," the big voice exulted. "We've got 'em sewed
in a sack."

Harris made one long reach and swung the butt of his gun for Slade's
head as the table went down but Slade, with the same motion, vaulted
the prostrate sheriff. The force of the blow threw Harris off his
balance and as he tripped and reeled to his knees Slade's boot heel
scored a glancing blow on his skull and floored him. He regained his
feet, gripping a fragment of the chair Morrow had smashed over
Waddles's head, and struck at a dim form which loomed against the vague
light of the window.

The shape closed with him and he went down in a corner with Slade.
Slade struck him twice in the face, writhed away and gained his feet,
back-slashing at Harris's head with his spurs. Harris caught a
hand-hold in the long fur of the other's chaps, wrapped both arms round
Slade above the knees and dragged him back. His hand found Slade's
throat and he squeezed down on it as the man raised both knees and
thrust them against his stomach to break the hold. Slade's arm swept a
circle on the floor in search of the gun Harris had dropped but he was
jerked a foot from the floor and Harris jammed his head against the log
wall,--jammed again and Slade crumpled into a limp heap. Harris held
him there, unwilling to take a chance lest the other might be feigning
unconsciousness. But Slade was out of the fight.

The sheriff struggled to his feet as Waddles tossed Morrow back from
the door and slammed it shut. He closed with Morrow but the man eluded
him. He dared not shoot with friends and enemies struggling all about
the black pit of the little room.

Morrow leaped one way, then the opposite, as the sheriff groped for
him. Alden turned toward a rattle at the