Yet he moved rapidly, a strange eagerness lighting up his eyes.
Jim Duff knew that he would never again dare to enter the town of Paloma, yet the gambler thirsted, before fleeing to new scenes, to be revenged on Tom Reade.

With that object in view, Duff was willing to take great risks.
As for Ashby, who, still clutching his shotgun in his left hand, staggered along under the burden of Hazelton's weight, the hotel man was no longer responsible for his actions.

Rage and wickedness had made him a maniac, who might be restrained but could not be punished by law.
Within two minutes the firing behind them died out.

Soon there were distant sounds of searching.

Plainly Hawkins and the other friends of the young engineers were hunting diligently for Tom and Harry.
"Dump your man, Ashby," commanded Jim Duff, halting at last.