Trees blocked his view there, and he was feeling about for a lower foothold so that he could make the descent when a voice from the ground startled him considerably.
"Come down outa there, before I shoot yuh down!" Casey looked down and saw what he afterwards declared was the meanest looking man on earth, pointing straight at him the widest muzzled shotgun he had ever seen in his life.
Casey came down.

The last ten feet of the distance he made in a clean jump, planting his feet full in the old man's stomach.

The meanest looking man on earth gave a grunt and crumpled, with Casey's fingers digging into his throat.
Whether Casey would have killed him or not will never be known.

For just as the man was falling limp in his hands, another heavy body landed upon Casey's back.

Casey felt a hard, chill circle pressed against his perspiring temple.