She was either magnificently sacrificial and fearless, or she cunningly calculated that the regulators would take no chances of killing a woman-child, for she kept between their guns and her two companions, trying to cover and shield the latter with her frail body.
"Shoot, Lige," called Watts.

"If we fire from here we'll hit the girl.
Shoot!" Willetts and Ross Schofield were still standing on the roof, at the edge, out of the smoke, and both fired at the same time.

The fugitives did not turn; they kept on running, and they had nearly reached the other side of the field, when suddenly, without any premonitory gesture, the elder Skillett dropped flat on his face.

The Cross-Roaders stood by each other that day, for four or five men ran out of the nearest shanty into the open, lifted the prostrate figure from the ground, and began to carry it back with them.

But Mr.Skillett was alive; his curses were heard above all other sounds.