And if he had known that the Circle Bar boys were camped just three miles away within hailing distance of the Lazy Eight trail, he would doubtless have postponed his after-supper smoke.
He was sitting, revolver in hand, watching the Wagners give a practical demonstration of the extent of their appetites, when Thurston limped in from the porch, his eyes darker than usual.

"There are a lot of riders coming, Mr.Lauman," he announced quietly.

"It sounds like a whole roundup.

I thought you ought to know." The prisoners went white, and put down knife and fork.

If they had never feared before, plainly they were afraid then.
Lauman's face did not in the least change.