I remember one of them saying: 'Don't shoot--it'll bring the whole town out!' And just as this one raised his knife to drive it into my throat--they were bending me backwards, the other two--I heard a shot, and this one dropped his knife and gave a yell.

There were two other shots, and the two who were holding me dropped.

This one ran off.

Then--" The boy turned and looked down at Jack, smoking his cigarette and trying to read what lay behind the stolid stare of the twelve men who sat in a solemn row on the bunks opposite him.

"This young man--" His lips trembled, and he stopped, to bite them into a more manlike firmness.
"Gentlemen, do what you like with me, but you've got to let this man go! He's the coolest, bravest man I ever saw! He saved my life.