There were only eight of the marshals, and, even with four of our fellows, they still have to face nearly twenty of the moonshiners---and I'll wager that the moonshiners are all desperate fighters." "Oh, dear!" wailed Danny Grin.
Bert Dodge's face was a study.

With the prospect of a running fight between United States' marshals and desperate moonshiners about to take place, these woods seemed likely to be anything but a safe place.
"At least, the marshals did a decent thing in leaving us rifles here to protect ourselves with," Dan Dalzell continued.
Raising his head, Bert took a long look at the camp.

Not far away stood Tom Reade, the outlines of a rifle in his grasp showing very distinctly.

Dalzell was over nearer the shadow of the tent, yet Bert made sure that Dalzell had a rifle also.
"Gracious! There is likely to be real enough trouble in the woods to-night!" muttered Bert.

"Those boys didn't have guns when they left Gridley.