ngers tightened on the trigger the steel heel-plate
descended in the center of his face, and I felt something crunch in under
it. He staggered sideways, there was a crash as the rifle exploded
harmlessly, and before he could recover I had him by the neck and hurled
him half-choked through the door. I had the sense to slam it and slip the
bolt home; then, while I stood panting, the Colonel prepared to improve
our position.

"Close those shutters and screw down the wing-nut hard," he said, hanging
the lamp close beside the door. "Now, stand here in the shadow. I am much
obliged to you, but you should have made certain of that fellow."

It was only natural that he should feel resentment; but there was a cold
vindictiveness in his tone which made me realize that it was as well for
the outlaw that I had not left him in the room. Then he spoke again:

"We have two good weapons; that rascal's cylinder is charged--I saw him
fill it out of my own bandolier, and there is an armory in the other room.
They took me by surprise--in Western parlance, got the drop on me. Of
course they'll come back, but all the doors and windows are fast, and we
could hear them breaking in, while in this kind of work the risk is with
the aggressor."

A pounding on the door cut him short, and a hoarse, partly muffled voice
reached us:

"We're about sick of fooling, and mean solid business now," it said.
"Open, and be quick about it, before we smash that door down and try moral
suasion by roasting both of you."

"You should have stayed when you were in," was the ironical answer. "No
doubt you have observed the light under the door. Well, the first man
across the threshold will get a bullet through him before he even sees us.
Haven't you realized yet that this undertaking is too big for you?"

"Curse him; he's busted my best teeth in. Hunt round and find something
for a battering ram," cried another voice, but though the assailants had
possibly not caught all the answer, they evidently understood the strength
of our position, for we heard them moving away.

"Gone to open the chest in the stables; they won't find much in it," said
Colonel Carrington. "They will try a fresh move next time. Mr. Lorimer, of
Fairmead, are you not? I wish to express my obligations again."

He took it very coolly, as it appeared he took everything, and smiled
curiously as, glancing at his watch, he said half-aloud: "Well, there are
worse things than a clean swift ending