The boy’s revolver barked and spit out its fiery protest over Shultz’s head; the tongue of flame against the dark background of the night was enough to command any minion of the Old Scratch, and Shultz proved no exception to this. The other chap, whose whiskered face the lads had recognized instantly, acted more wisely, hoping, no doubt, for some moment to arrive where strategy or surprise might count. “Vat? Eh? Py shoose, you shoot me? Veil, no, you shoot me nod! I vas holt mein hands up so, und shtop poinding dot peestol! Uh! It might vent off!” “It will sure go off and through your fat gizzard if you don’t turn round and head for the road and town! Both of you, now march!” Don issued this order, then he turned to Mrs. Shultz who had suddenly lifted her voice in a loud lament, much resembling a screech. “Now, listen, please: Your man must be all right; all we want him for is to tell about this other fellow. Don’t worry; he’ll be back right soon. Say, Clem, you explain to her; I guess she’s going crazy.” This was pretty close to the facts, although long association with the hard knocks of a troubled existence had saved her from going crazy now. But, woman-like, she must fly to the defense of her man, even though, German-like, she was his slave. She was making a vehement protest of some kind, largely by rushing to Shultz and trying to reach her arms around his ample waist; she may have meant to carry him off bodily and protect or hide him, but she fell short in estimating his avoirdupois. Clem gently pulled the woman back and again reassured her; by insisting about twenty times that it was all right and that she need not worry he managed at last to get her a little calmer and then Don ordered the men forward. But now the bearded fellow had something to say and it was in the best of English, without a trace of foreign accent. He did not offer to lower his arms. “I suppose, young gentlemen, this is some kind of a holiday prank; is it not? A schoolboy pleasantry, though rather a severe one, but being once young myself I can sympathize with the exuberance of youth. When you see fit to end this, permit us both and this poor woman to enter the house. I am quite ill and we have all lost much sleep of late. Be then so kind as to--.” “We can imagine that you have indeed lost much sleep and you will probably lose more!” Don was sarcastic. “But we didn’t come here to parley. If this is a schoolboy joke it’s sure enough a hefty one; all you’ve got to do is to fall in with it and do as you’re told. The next time this gun cracks it’s going to be right straight at one of your carcasses, by cracky, and you’ve going to get hurt! So, hit the road out yonder for town and hit it lively! Get moving, or I’m going to pull this trigger the way she’s pointing. Now then, go on!” “But, my boy, you have no right to thus threaten and order us about. You do not appear like bandits; surely you can mean us no harm and we have done nothing--”