Deadwood Dick Jr. Branded; or, Red Rover at Powder Pocket

Book excerpt: 'Deadwood Dick Jr. Branded; or, Red Rover at Powder Pocket' is a novel revolving around a fictional character named Deadwood Dick who is a cowboy. The story in this particular volume begins with the engineer and fireman giving their attention to what was going on at the express car. The messenger had refused to open the door when ordered to do so, and had already killed one man and wounded another, firing through the barred ventilator close up under the roof. The robbers were preparing to use dynamite. Back in the cars the others were holding up the passengers, but without any attempt at robbing them. This, of itself, was proof that the express car was the objective point; they meant to risk nothing by attempting to make the robbery general. By some accident, or by some passenger daring all to take the initiative, the robbers might lose control in one of the cars, and if that happened, and they kept the people in the cars together, they might be successful in beating the robbers off. On the other hand, one man standing just within each door, with a cocked and leveled Winchester in hand, and his finger on the trigger, they had all the advantage in their favor, and might hold it as long as they desired.