They was tired of listening to talk and arguments, and showed it.
The colonel stopped speaking short when they flung that question at him.
His face changed.

He turned serious all over.

And he let loose jest one word: "NO!" Not very loud, but with a ring in it that sounded like danger.

And he got 'em waiting agin, and hanging on his words.
"No!" he repeats, louder, "not all.

I have this to say to you--" And he paused agin, pointing one long white finger at the crowd-- "IF YOU LYNCH THIS MAN YOU MUST KILL ME FIRST!" I couldn't get away from thinking, as he stood there making them take that in, that they was something like a play-actor about him.