"Bad Pete is up the hillside, about two hundred yards from you-----" "I haven't time to bother with him, now," Tom broke in composedly.
"Duck fast, boy! Pete has an ugly grin on his face, and he's reaching for his pistol.

He's got it out---he's going to shoot!" whispered Rutter, drawing his head down where it would be safe from flying bullets.
The chainmen, lounging nearby, had wasted no time in getting safely to cover.
"Going to shoot, is he ?" murmured Tom, without glancing away from the instrument.

"Does Peter really know how to shoot," "You'll find out! Jump---like a flash, boy!" Tom went calmly on tinkering with the mechanism of his instrument.
Bang! sounded up the trail.

Tom's fingers didn't falter as he adjusted a small, brass screw.
Bang! came the second shot.

Tom betrayed no more annoyance than before.