They entered the clearing, picking their way among the stumps without haste or confusion.

When quite close, five of the band dismounted; the rest continued on about the jail or cantered off toward the road.

By this time the judge's teeth were chattering and he was dripping cold sweat at every pore.

He prayed earnestly that they might hang the horsethief and spare him.

The dismounted men took up a stick of timber that had been cut for the jail and not used.
"Look out inside, there!" cried a voice, and the log was dashed against the door; once--twice--it rose and fell on the clapboards, and under those mighty thuds grew up a wide gap through which the moonlight streamed splendidly.