Turning about, Bill found himself face to face with a ruffian who was rushing from the house, brandishing a six-shooter.

He asked no questions, but pulled one of the two guns he carried and fired.

No sooner had the man fallen, however, than a second, also armed, came out of the house.

Hickock disposed of this fellow also, and then entered the place, where four others opened a fusillade on him.
Although the room was thick with smoke, and Bill had to use extreme care to avoid hitting the woman, who was screaming in the corner, he managed to kill two of his assailants with his revolvers and to ward off a blow with a rifle a third had leveled at him.
The blow knocked the weapon from his hand, but his knife was still left him, and with it he put the man with the rifle out of the way.

His troubles were not at an end, however.