There were four of them.
It was lighter down toward the sea, for the rocks still threw a heavy shadow over the plateau.

The sight sent a thrill of brave excitement through the captain.
"If they come in squads of four," thought he, "I may be a match for them.
They can't see me, and I can see them.

If I could trust Maka to load a gun, I would have a better chance, but if I could pick off two, or even one, that might stop the others and give me time to reload.

Come on, you black-hearted scoundrels," he muttered through his teeth, as he knelt outside the cave, one gun partly raised, and the other on the ground beside him.

"If I could only know that none of your band could come in at that hole in the back of the cave, I'd call the odds even." The dawn grew brighter, and the four men drew nearer.