He tried to look, but could not see.

He brought his eyes to nearer vision to fix their focus for another look, and straight before him whirled a shackly old saloon, rough and tumble, its character apparent from the men who were grouped about its doorway and from the barrels and kegs in profusion outside.

From the doorway issued four men, wiping their mouths and shouting hilariously.

Four horses stood tied to a fence near by.

They were so instantly passed, and so vaguely seen, that he could not be sure in the least, but those four men reminded him strongly of the four who had passed the schoolhouse on Sunday.
He shuddered, and looked back.