И проиграли бой

           Wegotwordthedamnvigilantesisgoin’totrysomethingonAndersontogetbackathimforlettin’usstayonhisplace.S’poseheneverletusstay?They’dbekickin’usalloverhellbynow.Anderson’saniceguy.Wehadn’toughttoletnobodyhurthim."

           "Thereain’tnobodyaround,"oneofthemenprotested."Jesus,mister,wecan’thangaroundallnight.Wewasoutpicketin’allafternoon."

           "Goon,then,"Maccriedangrily."Let’emraidthisplace.ThenAnderson’llkickusoff.Thenwhereinhellwouldwebe?"

           "Wecouldjungleup,downbytheriver,mister."

           "Youthinkyoucould.They’drunyouoverthecountylinesoquickyourass’dsmoke,andyouknowit!"

           Oneofthemengotslowlytohisfeet."Theguy’sright,"hesaid."Webetterdragitoutofhere.Myoldwoman’sinthecamp.Idon’twanttohavehergetinnotrouble."

           "Well,putoutaline,"Macsuggested."Don’tletnobodythrough.YouknowwhattheydonetoAnderson’sboy—burnedhislunchwagon,kickedhelloutofAl."

           "Alputoutanicestew,"saidoneofthemen.Theystooduptiredly.WhentheywerealloutofthebarnMacblewoutthelantern."Vigilantesliketoshootatalight,"heexplained."Theytakebigchanceslikethat.WebetterhaveAndersonpulldownhiscurtains,too."

           Theguardsfiledoffintothedarkness.Jimasked,"Youthinkthey’llkeepwatchnow,Mac?"heasked.