t I poked him in the ribs with my foot to let
him understand that there was a flag of truce on and he must behave
himself. I guess Pike didn't like it, because this sounded as if we
couldn't trust him, but he didn't say anything.

"Well," he broke out, "there's no use of us standing here and talking.
We've come after that $5,000, and you fellers know it."

"We told you all we had to say about that in the letter."

"Then we'll bust that safe and burn your town," he said, like a
savage.

"Go ahead and try it," I answered. "We're ready for you."

His face, which had looked black as night all the while, now turned
white with rage.

"We'll try it fast enough and we'll do it fast enough, too," he cried,
with some prodigious oaths, bad enough for any pirate. "Look here; I
ain't got any gun with me, and I s'pose you ain't, if you're any man
at all. But you're as near your gun as I am mine, hey?"

"Yes," I said.

"Then this here flag of truce is ended right now. When I get hold of
my gun I shoot, and you're welcome to do the same!"

He turned and started back on the run. So there was nothing for me but
to face about and do the same.

CHAPTER XVII

The Fight, and not much else: except a little Happening at the End
which startles me greatly.

It seems a good deal to believe, but I actually half think that Kaiser
had begun to get hold of the fine points of a flag of truce, and that
he understood it was ended. What makes me have this idea is that I
think he must have taken after Pike at first, though I wasn't doing
much looking back just then, being busy at something more important;
but anyhow he wasn't with me till I was halfway to the store, when he
passed me with a great bark and went on tearing up the snow a few
steps ahead. I wish he had got ahead sooner, as I think I ran faster
trying to keep up with him; but as it was I don't know but he saved my
life.

Either Pike got back before I did, or one of his cutthroats fired for
him; I know not, probably the latter, but the shot was for me and
well aimed, so well that I guess the bullet went where I was when it
started. Thus it was: Kaiser was ahead, and reared up and threw
himself at the store door, which, being unlatched, flew open; it
stopped him a little, and I, being close behind, went down over him
and into the store head first, as if I had been fired out of a cannon;
and at that instant the bullet I spoke of struck the open door halfway
up. I slammed