Hampton tried the shot suggested, elevating considerable to overcome
distance. There was a yell, and a swift skurrying backward which
caused Mason to laugh, although neither knew whether this result arose
from fright or wound.
"'Bliged ter teach 'em manners onct in a while, or they 'll imbibe a
fool notion they kin come right 'long up yere without no invite. 'T
ain't fer long, no how, 'less all them guys are ijuts."
Hampton turned his head and looked soberly into the freckled face,
impressed by the speaker's grave tone.
"Why?"
"Fire, my boy, fire. The wind's dead right fer it; thet brush will
burn like so much tinder, an' with this big wall o' rock back of us, it
will be hell here, all right. Some of 'em are bound to think of it
pretty blame soon, an' then, Bob, I reckon you an' I will hev' to take
to the open on the jump."
Hampton's eyes hardened. God, how he desired to live just then, to
uncover that fleeing Murphy and wring from him the whole truth which
had been eluding him all these years! Surely it was not justice that
all should be lost now. The smoke puffs rose from the encircling
rifles, and the hunted men cowered still lower, the whistling of the
bullets in their ears.