A draught from the bottle he carried in his pocket steadied his nerves, and he went on, but stopped again in front of the cabin; for there stood another horse, and there in the doorway stood a figure in the darkness! His curses rang through the still air and smote the moonlight.

His pistol flashed forth a volley of fire to second him.
In answer to his demand who was there came another torrent of profanity.
It was one of his comrades of the day before.

He explained that he and two others had come up to pay a visit to the pretty girl.

They had had a wager as to who could win her, and they had come to try; but she was not here.
The door was fastened.

They had forced it.