For my blood ran cold at the many dreadful things that came into my mind.

I was sure that they had not spied me yet, and my overwhelming desire was to decline all introduction.
I counted fourteen gentlemen, for so they always styled themselves, and would pistol any man who expressed a contrary opinion.

Fourteen of them rode to the brink of the quiet blue river on the other side; and there they let their horses drink, and some dismounted and filled canteens, and some of longer reach stooped from the saddle and did likewise.

But one, who seemed to be the captain, wanted no water for his rum.
"Cut it short, boys," I heard him say, with a fine South Californian twang (which, as well as his free swearing, I will freely omit).

"If we mean to have fair play with the gal, now or never's the time for it: old Sam may come home almost any time." What miserable cowards! Though there were so many of them, they really had no heart to face an old man known for courage.