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positions where they could cut off any
resistance.
    The raid was carried out with military
precision, the effect being much as Danby’s crew would have wished.
Most of the townspeople were panicked.
    Two of the gunmen rode up the streets shooting
at close range all the horses that were tied to the various
hitching rails. The horses, sensing their danger, were panicking as
well, with much snorting, squealing and screaming.
    “ You damned murdering dogs!” cried
Slim Tabner, one of the tannery workers, running down Lincoln
Street with an old Dragoon revolver. He stopped as soon as he came
within range of one of the mounted men, took aim and fired. He hit
the outlaw in the chest, and he was thrown sideward, landing in the
dust in front of Wright’s Bakery. Immediately, one of the
dismounted gunmen fired back, the bullet hitting Slim in the head
and splattering blood and brain matter on the ground behind
him.
    At the other end of the town, Jim Danby, Wes
Hammond and their men had converged on the Wolf Creek Savings and
Loan. Melvin Lohorn, the owner, had been startled by all the noise
and the sudden appearance of five armed men who had kicked and
barged their way in and immediately shot down Hank Jones and
Jeremiah Barnes, the two tellers on duty. Three of the men had then
forced staff and customers onto the floor while the leader had made
Melvin open the safe, himself. The other kept a watch at the
door.
    Once they had loaded up their saddlebags, for
good measure they knocked out Allen Cook, the accountant, and
Melvin Lohorn with the butts of their weapons. Then they departed,
firing a few shots into the walls above the heads of the prostrate
customers.
    “ Anyone who makes any move to come
after us will get to lie down permanently!” Danby
growled.
    ****
    At the first sound of gunshots, Bill Torrance
and his friend Jed Stevens had left the livery and run to North
Street. The sight of a small army galloping along North Street
toward them, and the other riders heading off down Fifth Street,
left them in no doubt as to what was happening. It was a raid on
the town, but most likely the main aim was to hit the
bank.
    “ Holy smoke!” exclaimed Jed,
clenching his Navy Colt. “Let’s hope Marshal Gardner and Sheriff
Satterlee and their deputies are close by. I’m going to see what’s
happening.”
    “ They’re shooting up the whole
place,” gasped Bill. “I’m going to make sure Ann and the school
kids all stay off the street.”
    “ You watch yourself, buddy,” Jed
said. “Everybody knows you never carry a gun, but these yahoos
might not care.”
    As Jed ran down one alley, Bill turned and
darted down another, then dashed across North Street into the
school.
    Marcus Sublette, the headmaster, was looking
out the window when Bill rushed in. He had already shepherded the
children to the other end of the classroom and forbidden them to
allow their curiosity to get the better of them.
    “ Where’s Miss Haselton?” Bill
asked in surprise.
    “ She—she hasn’t come in yet. She
was running some errands with the Li Children first. It’s for
the—”
    Full of fear for Ann, Bill dashed out and
almost ran into Derrick McCain, who was running up an alley toward
North Street.
    “ Have you seen Ann Haselton?” Bill
asked, urgently.
    “ Yeah, I saw her duck into the
Expositor office with those Chinese boys. She’s safe enough
there.”
    The two men had never gotten on, having
different allegiances during the War, but Bill put a hand on the
younger man’s shoulder and heaved a sigh of relief. He was about to
say something when the sound of repeated shots from the bank rang
out. Then the door flew open and a handful of gunmen charged out,
each carrying a heavy saddle-bag. The leader whistled, and a moment
later, a mounted raider came around the corner trailing the reins
of their horses. They threw their bags over their saddles, mounted
and wheeled round in readiness to make their escape.
    Then, Danby spied Bill and