In the darkness, the bandits would have every advantage.

For a moment he glared at the black shadow ahead, his brain working like lightning.
"That poor girl!" he muttered vaguely.

"Damn beasts! But I'll fix 'em, by heaven! It won't be long, my boys." His pondering brought quick results.

Crawling to Bud's cot, he aroused him from a deep sleep.

Inside of two minutes the lad was streaking off through the woods toward town, with instructions to bring Anderson Crow and a large force of men to the spot as quickly as possible.
"I'll stand guard," said Wicker Bonner.
As the minutes went by Bonner's thoughts dwelt more and more intently upon the poor, imprisoned girl in the cabin.