Within two minutes after the explosion ten small sacks were deposited
in the saddlebags on the horses which stood before the station-house.
Silent's whistle called in Terry Jordan and Shorty Rhinehart--a sharp
order forced Kate to climb into her saddle--and the train robbers
struck up the hillside at a racing pace. A confused shouting rose
behind them. Rifles commenced to crack where some of the passengers
had taken up the weapons of the dead guards, but the bullets flew
wide, and the little troop was soon safely out of range.
On the other side of the hill-top they changed their course to the
right. For half an hour the killing pace continued, and then, as there
was not a sign of immediate chase, the lone riders drew down to a
soberer pace. Silent called: "Keep bunched behind me. We're headed for
the old Salton place--an' a long rest."
CHAPTER XIX
REAL MEN
Some people pointed out that Sheriff Gus Morris had never made a
single important arrest in the ten years during which he had held
office, and there were a few slanderers who spoke insinuatingly of the
manner in which the lone riders flourished in Morris's domain. These
"knockers," however, were voted down by the vast majority, who swore
that the sheriff was the finest fellow who ever threw leg over saddle.
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