It was getting dark in the room, and the shadows were heavy on the hills.  While the remaining members of the besieged party sat silent and depressed upon the casks and boxes, Crosby stood at the window calling to the enemy.

“Is he ready to surrender?” thundered Anderson Crow from the shadows.

Then followed a brief and entirely unsatisfactory dialogue between the two spokesmen.  Anderson Crow was firm in his decision that the fugitive did not have to be told what he had done; and George Crosby was equally insistent that he had to be told before he could decide whether he was guilty or innocent.

“We’ll starve him out!” said Anderson Crow.

“But there are ladies here, my good man; you won’t subject them to such treatment!”

“You’re all of a kind—­we’re going to take the whole bunch!”

“What do you think will happen to you if you are mistaken in your man?”

“We’re not mistaken, dang ye!”

“He could sue you for every dollar you possess.  I know, for I’m a lawyer!”

“Now, I’m sure you’re in the job with him.  I s’pose you’ll try to work in the insanity dodge!  It’s a nest of thieves and robbers!  Say, I’ll give you five minutes to surrender; if you don’t, we’ll set fire to the derned shanty!”

“Look here, boys,” said Jack Barnes suddenly, “I’ve done nothing and am not afraid to be arrested.  I’m going to give myself up.”  Of course there was a storm of protest and a flow of tears, but the culprit was firm.  “Tell the old fossil that if he’ll guarantee safety to me I’ll give up!”

Anderson was almost too quick in promising protection.

“Ask him if he will surrender and make a confession to me—­I am Anderson Crow, sir!” was the marshal’s tactful suggestion.

“He’ll do both, Mr. Crow!” replied Crosby.

“We’ve got to take the whole bunch of you, young man.  You’re all guilty of conspiracy, the whole caboodle!”

“But the ladies, you darned old Rube—­they can’t—­”

“Looky here, young feller, you can’t dictate to me.  I’ll have you to—­”

“We’ll all go!” cried Mrs. Crosby warmly.

“To the very end!” added the new Mrs. Barnes.

“What will your father say?” demanded the groom.

“He’ll disown me anyway, dear, so what’s the difference?”

“It’s rather annoying for a minister—­” began the Reverend “Jimmy,” putting on his hat.

“We’ll beg off for you!” cried Mrs. Crosby ironically.

“But I’m going to jail, too,” finished he grimly.

“All right,” called Crosby from the window; “here we come!”

And forth marched the desperate quintet, three strapping young men and two very pretty and nervous young women.  They were met by Anderson Crow and a dozen armed men from Tinkletown, every one of them shaking in his boots.  The irrepressible Mrs. Crosby said “Boo!” suddenly, and half the posse jumped as though some one had thrown a bomb at them.