But we ain't got the right holt," the old miner continued, squinting his eyes as if thus endeavoring to get the thought firmly lodged in his brain.
"He 's ben made a deputy sheriff.

He kin turn that crowd o' toughs over thar into a posse, an' come over here with the whole law o' the State backin' them in any deviltry they decide on, even ter killin' off the lot o' us for resistin' officers.

Es Sam Hayes said, if we shoot, we 'll be a-shootin' up Gulpin County.

An' yet, by thunder, we 've plumb got ter do it, er git off the earth.

I jest don't see no other way.