A few steps were enough to take him out of range of that dreaded weapon, and then his demeanour changed.
"That was a good trick of yours, Mont Sterry, but it won't do you a bit of good." "Why not ?" "Here come the rest of the boys, and if you think you can hold them up, why try it." At that moment the horsemen assumed form in the gloom and approached the house in a diagonal direction.

Encouraged by their presence, Larch Cadmus once more moved toward the open door and resumed the position of leader.
"Now, my fine fellow, we summon you to surrender," he called in his brusquest voice and manner.
The reply was striking.

A young man stepped from the door and advanced to meet the horsemen.

There was an instant when Cadmus believed his victim had come forth to give himself up as commanded, but one glance showed that it was Fred Whitney.

He calmly awaited the coming of the mounted men, saluted them, and said: "You have come for Mont Sterry, and Cadmus there assures me that if I give him my word that he is not in my house he will accept the statement; do you agree to it ?" "How's that, Larch ?" asked Ira Inman, turning toward him.
"Them was my words, but--" "Well, then, I have to say that Mont Sterry is not in my house; the only persons there are my mother and sister." "But I seen him, and he got the drop on me--how's that ?" "Yes," replied Whitney, enjoying his triumph, "he was there a few minutes ago, and he _did_ get the drop on you and the rest of your fellows; but I took his place; he went out of the back door, mounted his mare, and if there's any of you that think you can overhaul him, you can't start a moment too soon." No man who heard these words doubted their truth.