Most of those visible seemed to have been frozen into unnatural positions.

Jorth stood rather in front of his men, hatless and coatless, one arm outstretched, and his dark profile set toward a little man just inside the door.

This man was Blue.

Jean needed only one flashing look at Blue's face, at his leveled, quivering guns, to understand why he had chosen this trick.
"Who're---you ?" demanded Jorth, in husky pants.
"Reckon I'm Isbel's right-hand man," came the biting reply.

"Once tolerable well known in Texas....