If the rest of you agree with me, I propose that we take the cub to his tree at once." Several spoke in favor of this plan.

Tom, seeing this, felt his heart sink somewhat within him, though he was no more inclined than before to accede to the demands of the rascals.
"Grab him! Throw him down; tie and gag him," were the gambler's orders.
Two men nearest the young engineer sprang at him.
"We'll play this game right through to the finish, then!" burst from Tom's lips, and there was something like fury in his voice.
Biff! Thump! Two of the townsmen of Paloma, wholly unprepared for resistance, went down before the engineer's telling blows.
"Your turn, Duff!" rumbled Reade's voice, as he sprang forward and launched a terrific blow at the gambler.
Duff went down, almost doubling up as he struck.

He had been hit squarely on the jaw with a force that made even Tom Reade's hardened knuckles ache.
"Shoot him!" rose a snarl, as others moved toward the boy.
"All right!" assented Tom, his voice ringing cheerily despite his anger.
"Be cowards, as comes natural to you.

Yet, if you have the courage of real men I'll agree to fight my way out of this place, meeting you one at a time." "What's that noise up in the street ?" suddenly demanded Ashby, in a tone of sudden fear.
"Run up and find out, if you want to know," proposed Tom, who stood poised, ready for another assailant to come within reach of his fists.
Stealthily, on tip-toe, the bully who had first engaged Reade in the street fight, was now trying to get up behind the young engineer.

The bully held the shotgun ready to bring down on the lad's head.
"There's some row up there," continued Ashby.