The jumpers apparently had vanished altogether, but he fancied that they were considering some plan of attack.

By and by, a voice came out of the shadows.
"There's the post close up against the fern," it said.
"That," remarked Saunders, dryly, "is going to put a hustle on to some of them." He was right, for a moment later a man stepped out into the moonlight.
"Put down your gun.

We want to talk," he said.
"Then," replied Saunders, who did not stand up, "go ahead; but you'll stop in the light; and if you feel like sending any of your partners to work a traverse round this bunch of fern, you can remember that I've got the forehead plumb on--you." The man's gesture indicated that he understood the situation, and, though he had jumped for cover a little earlier, as most men in his place would have done, it was evident that he was a courageous rogue.
"I want to tell you that there are four of us, and we've come up quite a way to shift that post for you," he said.

"There's no use making trouble, for it has to be done." Saunders touched his companion's shoulder.
"Chip in," he said softly.

"Talk like a land agent trying to sell a ranch.