“An’ I suppose you think this is a pretty good way of dyin’?” sneered Silent.

“I have more cause to fight for Barry than Buck has,” said Haines.

“Lee, we’ve been pals too long.”

“Silent, I’ve hated you like a snake ever since I met you.  But outlaws can’t choose their company.”

His tawny head rose.  He stared haughtily around the circle of lowering faces.

“By God,” said Silent, white with passion, “I’m beginnin’ to think you do hate me!  Git down there an’ take your place.  You’re first an’ Daniels comes next.  Kilduff, you c’n count!”

He stalked to the end of the room.  Haines lingered one moment.

“Buck,” he said, “there’s one chance in ten thousand that I’ll make this draw the quickest of the two.  If I don’t, you may live through it.  Tell Kate—­”

“Haines, git to your mark, or I’ll start shootin’!”

Haines turned and took his place.  The others drew back along the walls of the room.  Kilduff took the lamp from the table and held it high above his head.  Even then the light was dim and uncertain and the draughts set the flame wavering so that the place was shaken with shadows.  The moon sent a feeble shaft of light through the window.

“One!” said Kilduff.

The shoulders of Haines and Silent hunched slightly.

“Two!” said Kilduff.

“God,” whispered someone.

“Three.  Fire!”

They whirled, their guns exploding at almost the same instant, and Silent lunged for the floor, firing twice as he fell.  Haines’s second shot split the wall behind Silent.  If the outlaw chief had remained standing the bullet would have passed through his head.  But as Silent fired the third time the revolver dropped clattering from the hand of Haines.  Buck caught him as he toppled inertly forward, coughing blood.

Silent was on his feet instantly.

“Stand back!” he roared to his men, who crowded about the fallen long rider.  “Stand back in your places.  I ain’t finished.  I’m jest started.  Buck, take your place!”

“Boys!” pleaded Buck, “he’s not dead, but he’ll bleed to death unless—­”

“Damn him, let him bleed.  Stand up, Buck, or by God I’ll shoot you while you kneel there!”

“Shoot and be damned!”

He tore off his shirt and ripped away a long strip for a bandage.

The revolver poised in Silent’s hand.

“Buck, I’m warnin’ you for the last time!”

“Fellers, it’s murder an’ damnation for all if you let Haines die this way!” cried Buck.

The shining barrel of the revolver dropped to a level.

“I’ve given you a man’s chance,” said Silent, “an’ now you’ll have the chance of—­”

The door at the side of the room jerked open and a revolver cracked.  The lamp shivered to a thousand pieces in the hands of Bill Kilduff.  All the room was reduced to a place of formless shadow, dimly lighted by the shaft of moonlight.  The voice of Jim Silent, strangely changed and sharpened from his usual bass roar, shrilled over the sudden tumult:  “Each man for himself! It’s Whistling Dan!”